The Great British Bake Off, usually a haven of gentle competition and soggy bottoms, has found itself in a right sticky situation. The show's much-anticipated 'Mexican Week' has left a sour taste in the mouths of viewers, who have taken to social media to brand the episode "cringe" and "offensive".
A Fiesta of Errors
Instead of a celebration of authentic Mexican cuisine, fans accused the episode of relying on tired stereotypes and painful inaccuracies. The criticism was swift and severe, with one viewer summing it up as "a posh British person's idea of Mexico."
The problems began with the infamous technical challenge. Bakers were tasked with creating a batch of tacos, but were provided with hard shell corn tortillas – a product more commonly associated with Tex-Mex chains than traditional Mexican street food.
Musical Missteps and Sombrero Cringe
Further compounding the issue was the episode's soundtrack, which featured a mariachi band, and hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding appearing on screen wearing sombreros. Many viewers felt this reduced a rich and diverse culture to a simplistic and outdated caricature.
The frustration was palpable online:
- One fan tweeted: "This is not Mexican Week, it's 'What Brits think Mexico is like' week."
- Another commented: "The cultural ignorance is staggering. It's 2022, do better, Bake Off."
- A third simply called it: "Painful to watch."
Judges Under Scrutiny
Even the usually unflappable judges, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, came under fire. Critics felt they lacked the expertise to properly judge the bakes, with their feedback seeming superficial compared to their knowledge of European patisserie.
The backlash has sparked a wider conversation about cultural sensitivity in television, leaving many loyal Bake Off fans wondering if the show's famous recipe needs a modern update.
