Axed MKR contestant Sonya reveals what started the controversial dinner party fight
<p>Following one of the most controversial nights in <em>My Kitchen Rules</em>’ history, axed contestant Sonya Mefaddi has revealed on social media what led to the nasty dinner party row.</p>
<p>On Instagram and Facebook, Sonya said that that there was a reason why she acted the way she did, and she would do her best to explain it without breaking her contract with Channel Seven.</p>
<p>Sonya claimed that during her time in the “MKR bubble”, she was called insults such as “ugly fat b***h” and "black ****" while filming.</p>
<p>Sonya said that these insults gave her a flashback to her childhood, where she was regularly bullied for her race and weight.</p>
<p>“One memory in particular which I’ll never forget was having the contents of my school bag tipped into a bin because of my background. I remember feeling shocked and angry and also feeling so hurt. Fast forward to the 21st century and who would have thought taking part in a cooking competition would bring back all those cruel, hurtful and extremely upsetting words online?” she said.</p>
<p>When she heard those similar insults while filming she said, “Those words struck a chord with me and really hurt which clearly showed.</p>
<p>“It’s been hard to apologise for that reason because it was a two way argument with name calling started by others. Did I handle that moment the best? No.”</p>
<p>The axed contestant also said that editing played a key role in her negative portrayal.</p>
<p>“It’s been a really tough road seeing myself being portrayed in such a horrible light,” she wrote.</p>
<p>Sonya continued her post by apologising for the behaviour that viewers had to witness.</p>
<p>“The words I said were out of line and don’t reflect my values or who I’ve grown up to be as a person and I am personally truly sorry,” she said.</p>
<p>“I have respect for all the teams in the competition, the long hours of filming, practising and writing out recipes isn’t easy.</p>
<p>“We all experienced the MKR bubble together and emotions are heightened, words are said, reactions are given and in this instance that was all that was shown — our reactions.”</p>
<p>She then gave her followers a glimpse into the way the saga has impacted her life, with both Sonya and Hadil receiving criticism and death threats as the show aired.</p>
<p>“I hope people can be more sensitive to the mental impact that this has had on me, our fellow contestants and our families and realise we have feelings and the constant bullying is not OK. Love, Sonya x.”</p>
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh02MGhl_5w/" target="_blank">A post shared by SONYA MEFADDI (@sonyamefaddi)</a> on Apr 21, 2018 at 1:26am PDT</p>
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<p>Sonya’s post followed judge Pete Evans announcement that the NSW besties would not be returning to the show after they were excused from the table by Manu Feildel following their attack on contestants Jess and Emma.</p>
<p class="standfirst-content">“We’ve been left with no other option but to end Sonya and Hadil’s involvement in the competition,” Pete Evans said.</p>
<p class="standfirst-content">“But right now, only seven teams remain. And at the end of this round ... one team will still be eliminated.”</p>
<p class="standfirst-content">Last week, Jess and Emma appeared on Sunrise where they asked viewers to not troll the axed contestants.</p>
<p>“We’re not making excuses for our behaviour,” Jess said.</p>
<p>“There is no place for bullying in any way, shape or form.</p>
<p>“I think Australia really needs to look at that if they’re so against bullying and what happened on the show, they just really need to go easy on the girls as well.</p>
<p>“Emma and I know first-hand what that’s like to be trolled online ... we’ve forgiven and I think Australia needs to do the same and bullying is not acceptable.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/2018/04/manu-feildel-and-pete-evans-break-silence-about-booting-a-team-from-the-show/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Judge Manu Feildel said</span></strong></a> that he had “never” seen anything like this on the cooking show before.</p>
<p>“Never. I hope I never see it again,” he said.</p>
