Masked Singer Australia: George Calombaris revealed as The Duster

Masked Singer Australia fans lit up social media with criticism after embattled chef George Calombaris was unmasked as The Duster.

Social media lit up with anger as former MasterChef judge and celebrity chef George Calombaris was unmasked as The Duster on The Masked Singer Australia on Tuesday night.

While panellists Dannii Minogue, Dave Hughes, Jackie O and Urzila Carlson were excited as the exuberant chef was revealed, outraged fans took to social media lambasting Channel 10 for putting Calombaris back on the network after he was fined $200,000 in 2019 for underpaying 515 staff between 2011 and 2017.

One tweeted “Just out of curiosity how much did george calombaris get paid to do #themaskedsingerAU? I’m asking for his workers”

“The scooby gang unmasks their biggest villain yet: The multi million wage thief george calombaris” yet another tweeted.

George Calombaris was announced as Duster on The Masked Singer show. Picture: Ten/ Instagram

While one thought it was particularly unfair given the pandemic’s devastation on the hospitality industry: “Shame on you @Channel10AU for bringing George Calombaris back to TV on The Masked Singer. Way to sprinkle salt into the wounds of hospitality staff, especially during NSW and Vic Lockdowns “

Although some were kinder, one generous viewer saying: “Lots of views like this about George Calombaris’ involvement on The Masked Singer. Surely at some point the guy deserves a chance to return to work. After all, other celebrities have done much worse (and been solely responsible for indiscretions) & been given new opportunities.”

It marked the 42-year-old’s return to Channel 10 after his exit from MasterChef in 2019 with fellow judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan over a pay dispute.

George sang the Ray Charles classic Shake Your Tail Feather. Picture: Instagram

Calombaris took to the stage with his take on the Ray Charles classic Shake Your Tail Feather, but it was no match for Baby’s rocking rendition of George Thorogood & The Destroyers’ Bad to the Bone.

The dust had barely settled before Minogue, Hughes, Jackie O and Carlson were tasked with guessing who was behind Duster’s mask.

They were way off the mark, convinced he was a sportsman, speculating Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Tim Cahill and Sachin Tendulkar.

Rethinking the few chef hints within the clues package, Jackie O changed her guess to Gordon Ramsay at the last minute.

Calombaris was overjoyed at the chance to be part of the bonkers reality show, taking to his Instagram after the show aired. Saying “WHAT AN EXPERIENCE I CAN NOT EXPLAIN ON @themaskedsingerau. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and to my limits, but most importantly put smiles on my kids faces and demonstrated to them that in life all you have to do is ‘have a crack’. A big thanks to @channel10au who have ALWAYS believed in me GC

Meanwhile, it remained a relatively close battle between Seven’s SAS Australia and The Masked Singer, with SAS drawing 626,000 viewers in capital cities (922,000 combined) and 592,000 (800,000) tuning into The Masked Singer building to a peak 676,000 (919,000) for the controversial reveal of Calombaris.

The Block continued to strengthen its lead in the reality wars tussle drawing 829,000 viewers in the metro market (1.17 million combined).

It was an emotional second episode on SAS Australia as the 17 remaining star recruits faced an extreme test of courage: an aerial crossing suspended 30ms above ground on a windy day.

Isabelle Cornish surprised many, including herself, smashing the aerial crossing suspended 30m up on a windy day. Picture: Seven

Model Isabelle Cornish was the surprise packet smashing through the daunting traverse, congratulated by DS Ant Middleton once back on ground.

“And that’s how it’s f*****g done,” Middleton said. “Piece of p**s right, outstanding effort. Love it.”

While some recruits smashed the task, others struggled, including #10 Erin Holland, who was brought in for questioning by the DS.

An emotional Holland revealed a tough 2020, including a break-in while she was home alone sleeping, which had left her feeling vulnerable and lacking in confidence.

Later, during torturous combat drills designed to deplete them, Holland was pushed to her physical limits and buckled under the intense DS pressure, becoming the second recruit to VW.

Erin Holland was devastated to VW after being pushed beyond her physical limits.

Recruits then attempted a claustrophobic crawl through a 25 metre underground wormhole, with recruit #16 Sam Burgess taking more than 40 minutes to complete the horrifying task.

DS Ollie and Billy questioned recruit #1, former Labor MP Emma Husar, in the Mirror Room, where she revealed being thrown under the bus – and out of parliament – over things she hadn’t done. The subsequent trial by media cost her everything and left her with severe depression and acute anxiety.

Former Labor MP Emma Husar has never recovered from being thrown under the bus by her parliamentary colleagues. Picture: Seven

“I’m completely numb,” said Husar. “The news events this year about Canberra have made me want to reach for the bucket. We’ve seen multiple men behaving badly, with evidence that they are all actually doing the wrong thing, and they are treating that place like a boys’ club.

“For anybody that wants to say women’s advancement’s done and we’ve got everything we need, they’re dead wrong. They’ll just find new ways to keep us marginalised and on the side. I just wish I would have had more courage and I would have said enough is enough way back then.”

Originally published as Masked Singer Australia: George Calombaris revealed as The Duster