MasterChef fans fume at “bullying” treatment
<p><em>MasterChef</em> fans were left fuming after last night’s episode showed Bondi Icebergs’ Head Chef Monty Koludrovic rattle the show’s final four contestants – particularly fan favourite Sashi Cheliah.</p>
<p>The final four were flown to Sydney to compete in a high-pressure service challenge at renowned Bondi Icebergs, where they had to cook one dish each for 30 diners.</p>
<p>Ben Borsht, 31, from Queensland, had an advantage from winning a previous challenge and chose to play to his strengths and cook fish.</p>
<p>Sashi, 39, from South Australia, got pasta, Jess Liemantara, 19, from Victoria got meat and Khanh Ong, 25, from Victoria, got dessert.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr">It's a privilege to be cooking with <a href="https://twitter.com/MontyKoludrovic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@montykoludrovic</a> at the pass today 👌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ufurd29fHU">pic.twitter.com/Ufurd29fHU</a></p>
— #MasterChefAU (@masterchefau) <a href="https://twitter.com/masterchefau/status/1022052647094939648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<p>Sashi was first and decided to make a pumpkin ravioli with mushroom sauce and crispy pancetta. Confessing to the cameras pasta was not his strength, Sashi quickly began to struggle in his service challenge, fell behind and failed o make the deadline for service</p>
<p>Sashi admitted: “I have really underestimated pasta-making. It’s a very long process.”</p>
<p>With the reputation of his restaurant on the line, head chef Monty was breathing down Sashi’s neck, barking orders at him continually through his service.</p>
<p>“Sashi, we need to see a plate done up,” he said.</p>
<p>“Come on, Sashi. Let’s cook it, mate. Now I need to boil it and add all the other elements. OK, have you got your sauce?”</p>
<p>A stressed out Sashi told him: “Not ready yet, but …” before Monty said: “Put this here. Where’s your sauce?”</p>
<p>“Where’s your pancetta? Come on. This is real, mate. We’re plating one right now. Now is not the time to get wobbly, mate. Let’s go.”</p>
<p>And when it came to service, things got even more tense.</p>
<p>Ordering Sashi around, Monty said: “C’mon, mate, you’ve gotta do more than one thing at once in here. OK, waiters, service! Have you got anything to say to the waiters?”</p>
<p>Sashi replied: “Ah, I haven’t poured the mushroom broth yet, so …”</p>
<p>Monty said: “What about, ‘Sorry, I'm so late.’”</p>
<p>Sashi said he will when Monty interjected: “C'mon, tell them.”</p>
<p>Finally, Sashi said: “Service, please.”</p>
<p>Monty repeated himself again, saying: “All you've gotta say is ‘Please tell them I'm sorry that I'm so late.’”</p>
<p>He then told Sashi: “More broth. More broth. More broth. Uh … That's a sorry excuse for a spoon there, ah, Sashi.”</p>
<p>Sasha said: “Service, please, and sorry for the delay.”</p>
<p>“We're all sorry for the delay, aren't we?” again,” Monty added.</p>
<p>When Sashi eventually finished his service, Monty finally praised him, saying: “Bravo, well done, you got there. You gave me a scare.”</p>
<p>However, fans of the show took to Twitter to accuse Monty of “bullying”, believing Sashi was being treated unfairly, contrary to other episodes where judges and guest chefs had been more encouraging with the amateur cooks. They also felt Monty was being less than supportive of Sashi compared to the other cooks.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> I wouldn’t eat in that restaurant in a million years after watching this episode. There’s no need to treat people like Monty has treated Sashi.</p>
— Donna Hosie 🏴🇬🇧 (@donnahosie) <a href="https://twitter.com/donnahosie/status/1022064202259693568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/masterchefau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@masterchefau</a> owes <a href="https://twitter.com/sashi_cheliah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sashi_cheliah</a> an apology. He should never have been spoken to like that and the challenge should have been stopped <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/disgraceful?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#disgraceful</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a></p>
— Becky Laurence (@beckykate85) <a href="https://twitter.com/beckykate85/status/1022069856584097792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr">Disheartening to watch how Sashi was treated tonight on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> In 10 years, I’ve never seen the show so out of touch. <a href="https://twitter.com/crispycrackling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@crispycrackling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MattsCravat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MattsCravat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/masterchefau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@masterchefau</a></p>
— Yvette Forrester (@yvetteforrester) <a href="https://twitter.com/yvetteforrester/status/1022077390023847936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> I really enjoy this show but tonight's episode left me disappointed. There was obvious bullying of Sashi by Monty, which no other contestant experienced. Demanding he apologise over and over again was over the top and unnecessary.</p>
— DisneyPrincess 🌈 (@OzGoofyPrincess) <a href="https://twitter.com/OzGoofyPrincess/status/1022080377895104512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<p>But on Instagram, Monty’s fans backed him during the show. One person wrote: “Well done Monty. I’m lucky enough to know you well and to of seen you develop the careers of so many brilliant chefs. You're an excellent mentor and inspiration to so many … Congratulations on a great show tonight. Sashi even thanked you for the support on his feed which was nice to see.”</p>
