MasterChef viewers were left in tears just minutes into Wednesday's episode, when contestants opened boxes to discover old family photos. The emotional rollercoaster continued as Khanh Ong and Reynold Poernomo revealed the poignant backstories behind their childhood photographs.
Khanh, 27, shared a photo of himself with his parents at age two, taken on the day they arrived in Australia. 'I was born in a refugee camp. And that's... after we got approved to migrate,' he sobbed, describing it as 'a massive change in our lifestyle'.
Reynold, 26, showed a picture of himself as a little boy sitting between cardboard boxes. He recounted being often left alone as a child while his parents worked in their restaurant. 'I remember immigration getting my parents taken away for a little bit. The restaurant closed down, of course. My brother was getting food for me when I was hungry,' he said through tears.
Viewers took to social media to express their emotional reactions. 'Okay, we're just crying tonight,' tweeted one, while another wrote, 'Guess who's crying in front of the TV?' Many noted the added poignancy during the coronavirus pandemic, with one fan commenting: 'In the time of pandemics, crying is easy - but sobbing is unexpected.'
The stories also moved judge Melissa Leong and fellow contestants, who were seen wiping away tears. Some viewers said they wanted to 'reach through the screen and hug' the pair, while others predicted the rest of the episode would be equally emotionally charged.
