Hayden finally explains his mysterious MasterChef ‘earpiece’

Hayden’s exit from the show was overshadowed by questions about one mystery – now, he sets the record straight.

MasterChef favourite Hayden Quinn was eliminated from the competition during Sunday night’s episode – but his exit was rather overshadowed by speculation about one mysterious bit of headgear he was wearing.

Quinn was bombarded by viewers on social media last night, demanding to know what exactly was on the side of his head during the episode. Eagle-eyed fans have for weeks been distracted by a small black object that’s regularly visible on Quinn’s head:

What is on top of Hayden’s ear? Is it a pen? Part of sunnies? #MasterChefAU

— ViVi B (@ViVi_RFObsessed) May 6, 2020

If anyone watching #masterchefau could explain whats hanging out of @hayden_quinn hat and why it looks like a 2010s-dad-style bluetooth earpiece... that'd be swell.

— Tara Trewhella (@TrewBella) May 17, 2020

Does anyone know what that thing is in Hayden's ear or hanging out the side of his hat? It seems to be getting bigger!#MasterChefAU

— Duneland🇦🇺 (@GlendaIkundi) May 17, 2020

What is the go with the antenna @hayden_quinn ? #MasterChefAU

— Only here for Masterchef (@kris2040) May 17, 2020

Is Hayden wearing a Bluetooth headset?? What is that hanging near his ear? #MasterChefAU pic.twitter.com/JznRyc0KDv

— Sonia ❤️ (@soniat71) May 17, 2020

@hayden_quinn please we need to know what is sitting on your ear? #MasterChefAU

— Bailey James (@WrestlingFan994) May 17, 2020

What is that black thing near Hayden’s ear that makes him look like a cab driver? #MasterChefAU

— Christy Grove (@thegroves84) May 6, 2020

One close-up snap posted on Twitter by a fan doesn’t exactly make matters clear:

Hayden and his mysterious black headgear.

Hayden finally weighed in during last night’s episode, confirming that no, he’s not taking calls on a bluetooth or secretly being fed recipes via earpiece – he just tucks a black pen behind his ear.

pen pen pen pen!
haha so many people confused by this https://t.co/ON7IHKKl1r

— Hayden Quinn (@hayden_quinn) May 17, 2020

IT'S A PEN!!!! hahaha https://t.co/1QF0wJOYSo

— Hayden Quinn (@hayden_quinn) May 17, 2020

Mystery solved. Hayden wasn’t the only MasterChef contestant to leave during last night’s episode, which also saw the show finally address the shock exit of contestant Ben Ungermann.

Ungermann disappeared on tonight's show with a brief mention to the contestants. His last episode was on MasterChef's Katy Perry special last week.

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“You're probably wondering where Ben is. Due to a personal matter, Ben has had to leave the competition, and he will not be returning,” said judge Jock Zonfrillo on the show last night.

In March, production company Endemol Shine released a statement saying that Ungermann had been removed from the cooking show because he had been arrested by police for what was described as an incident of a “personal nature”.

“We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition. As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment,” the spokesman said at the time.

Ungermann had been seen in most episodes of MasterChef: Back To Win that had aired so far.