MasterChef 2020: Laura Sharrad’s emotional cook after pasta criticism

MasterChef’s Laura Sharrad broke down in tears during Monday’s cook, with the pasta chef’s vulnerability helping silence her haters.

After waves of harsh criticism from MasterChef viewers this season, Laura Sharrad has wowed the judges again with another expertly-crafted pasta dish.

The chef has copped weeks of flak from MasterChef fans who have taken umbrage with her propensity to plate up pasta, with her commenting on Monday that she had purposely veered away from her speciality in recent weeks.

Laura, who runs a pasta restaurant in Adelaide, was overcome with emotion during the episode as she recreated an tortellini dish from her childhood, blowing the judges away and sending her through to the immunity cook-off against Reynold Poernomo and Callum Hann.

Laura Sharrad was overcome with emotion on MasterChef. Picture: Channel 10.

While the usual anti-Laura social media backlash was swift, a number of viewers took to Twitter to finally defend the star, fighting back against the criticism she doesn’t deserve.

Speaking to the camera Monday night, Laura acknowledged: “I haven’t put up a pasta dish in a long time in this competition. I made lots of pasta at the beginning of the competition and then I decided to push myself using different techniques and skills.

“But I felt like today was the day. Like, this dish is a childhood memory for me. It was the perfect time to pull it out. So, when my nonna used to make this dish for us, I think it was my favourite thing. It was just like the best hug you could ever get. That’s what I want to do today,” she added, welling up on camera.

“This is my childhood, and it’s getting me all emotional … Happy emotions, you know? Brings back nice memories.”

RELATED: What we’re all getting wrong about Laura Sharrad

RELATED: Co-star defends Laura Sharrad amid viewer backlash

Laura has made it through to the final immunity cook of the season. Picture: Channel 10.

Presenting her refined tortellini to the judges, the star’s eyes filled with tears again when asked to describe her plate of food.

“We haven't seen a pasta from you for a long, long time,” Andy Allen had remarked.

“I spent two years as a kid living in Tuscany … I'm gonna get all emotional,” she said, laughing as she wiped away tears.

Laura’s tortellini shells looked perfect before the broth was poured in. Picture: Channel 10.

“It’s just the memories of my childhood with my grandparents … just really special.”

Some viewers — who have taken cruel delight in slamming Laura on social media — were at it again as the episode went on, but among the comments on Twitter, many were quick to defend her.

Some speculated that her emotional cook was down to her having seen the backlash from earlier in the season:

People are so ridiculously harsh about Laura, why are you so angry she made pasta? And why does it bother you that she has an emotional origin sorry for her dish? Move on guys, she’s a human being with feelings and she’s a damn talented chef. #MasterChefAU

— Daryl (@xwickedmindx) July 6, 2020

Just stop with the nasty Laura remarks. Totally unkind. #MasterChefAU

— Sonia ❤️ (@soniat71) July 6, 2020

The snarking at and bullying of Laura online is so gross. Spoiling the otherwise brilliant #MasterChefAU.

— Melissa Field (@melissajfield) July 6, 2020

I just don't understand all the Laura hate. She's human. She has feelings. Leave her alone keyboard warriors. #MasterChefAU

— Shimona (@simplyshimona) July 6, 2020

These Laura haters better see what their trolling has done to her. Those tears are because she’s been unnecessarily bullied for being great at her job! Laura we all know your an absolute legend and a gun chef whether it’s pasta or #NotPasta #MasterchefAU

— Corey (@coreyramsay03) July 6, 2020

It comes after co-stars have jumped to defend the star against the online bullying she’s suffered throughout the season.

Eliminated contestant Chris Badenoch is the latest MasterChef star to stick up for Laura amid the backlash.

Speaking to news.com.au last week, Chris said: “Poor Laura’s copping it and I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why people decide to pick on certain individuals on a certain topic when others are guilty of the same thing.”

Chris acknowledged that Laura often cooks pasta dishes, but argued that’s to be expected.

“She owns a f***ing pasta restaurant, of course she’s going to do pasta!” he told news.com.au. “It’s what she’s best at and if she can do it, she will.”

Laura’s co-stars Khanh Ong and Brendan Pang also insisted viewers have got the wrong end of the stick, sharing that Laura is actually one of the most genuine, caring contestants on the show.

“People have only chosen to see her as cooking pasta but if you actually count it all up it wouldn’t even be half the dishes,” Khanh told Now to Love.

“She’s a really close friend of mine and I was really surprised by how much backlash she got because I think it’s unfair.”

Brendan told news.com.au: “I became close with her and she’s very giving,” he said.

“I remember on my birthday, she gave me a little gift – no one else did. It was so cool that she remembered.

“She’s a very generous person and she’s always cooking for everyone.”

MasterChef: Back to Win continues Tuesday night from 7.30pm on Channel 10.