Sunday night kicked off ‘Perfect Pairs Week’ on MasterChef Australia, and while fans are unsure about the theme after such a successful Nostalgia Week, there’s one random detail about the contestants’ behaviour this season that has struck a nerve.
Fans have already expressed concerns about how not every dish is being tasted this season, and shown contempt for the apparent lack of “hygiene” displayed during the filming, but now they’ve taken issue with something far more surprising – and absolutely harmless: hugging.
Yep, it seems that the simple hug has been put on blast by viewers who are sick of seeing the cooks support each other with acts of affection.
“The need to hug every contestant…too much,” one fan wrote online. “No wonder they don’t have time to taste every dish.”
“Is there a hug choreographer on #MasterChefAU?” another fan quipped in reply.
While there are certainly much worse things to become a habit on a reality TV show, it seems this small detail is one fans cannot get over, leading to more questions about where this behaviour started.
Speaking to WHO, former contestant and 2025 winner Laura Sharrad spoke about the “family-friendly” environment that MasterChef Australia provides and why this “hug” after each judging comes from a genuine place of kinship between the contestants.
“It’s always been a huge emotive part of the show, which I think really encapsulates how different this show is to other reality TV shows out there”, she says.
“The contestants all form really strong bonds throughout filming, and when someone does well, you’re genuinely excited for them.”
Why viewers feel sorry for MasterChef contestants
While hugging seems like a random and unnecessary detail to be upset about, fans are sticking by their gripe. From the time wasted to the discomfort some contestants may feel about the experience, viewers of MasterChef Australia have not held back this year.
“What if you don’t want to hug every contestant every cook?” one fan questioned on X.
“Why must they hug EVERY SINGLE TIME,” another wrote in reply.
“It must take forever to get back to their bench, what with EVERYONE having to hug them,” another fan quipped.
“I wonder if the contestants/professional chefs on #MasterchefAU realise how hilarious it is they need a hug after cooking 1 plate of food,” another fan joked.
Alongside being annoyed by the habit, fans also pointed out the awkwardness of this routine if you’re a contestant who isn’t as accustomed to physical touch.
“I feel sorry for anyone who isn’t touchy-feely,” one fan wrote.
MasterChef stars explain all the hugging on the show
It’s a valid point, and one that Stephanie De Sousa from seasons 11 and 17 shed light on.
“Ahh, the hugging!” she said during a chat with WHO. “Look, sometimes you love it, and sometimes you hate it. Last year, we tried to introduce a 5 hug a day maximum, but it failed!”
However, Laura tells WHO that the hugging is not as pervasive as viewers are making out.
“I think it’s really obvious when there are so many contestants around,” she explains. “But, it’s not as much as people think!”
Adds Stephanie, “MasterChef is just a love fest. You are on a massive roller coaster ride from the second you walk into that place until you leave.
“This requires massive amounts of hugs and moral support.”
At a time when there are so many horrible things going on in the world, couldn’t we all use a little hug?! We say the MasterChef cast are onto something!
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