NewsBite

MasterChef Australia: What we’re all getting wrong about Laura Sharrad

Laura Sharrad has copped a battering from viewers for her “bad” attitude and “smug” behaviour, but her co-stars insist we are all wrong.

Andrew BucklowAndrew Bucklow
@ACBucklow
4 min read
June 17, 2020 - 10:45AM
Laura and Sarah’s awkward post-challenge moment (MasterChef)

On every reality show there are fan favourites and then there are those who the public take great delight in disliking.

Unfortunately for Laura Sharrad, she has somehow found herself at the top of the least liked list on the current season of MasterChef.

Laura, who first appeared on the cooking show in Season Six before returning for this year’s Back To Win series, has been criticised by some viewers for her “smug” behaviour and “bad attitude” on the cooking show.

Many viewers have also grown tired of her propensity to cook pasta dishes, and have suggested she has received favourable treatment from judge Jock Zonfrillo, who she used to work for.

But Laura’s co-stars have insisted that we’ve all got the wrong end of the stick, and that Laura is actually one of the most genuine, caring contestants on the show.

RELATED: Tessa’s steak dish baffles MasterChef viewers

Laura Sharrad has copped a lot of criticism on social media this season.
Laura Sharrad has copped a lot of criticism on social media this season.

CO-STARS DEFEND LAURA

Two of this season’s most popular contestants, Brendan Pang and Khanh Ong, have spoken out about the criticisms levelled at Laura and have branded them unfair.

Speaking to Now To Love, recently eliminated contestant Khanh hit back at claims that Laura only ever cooks pasta 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 said.

“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.

“It happens in a lot of seasons and it usually happens to a beautiful woman. Social media seems to jump on a beautiful woman and I think that’s what it is. They found her and instead of attacking her because they just don’t like that she’s on TV again, they’re attacking her for pasta. That’s not the reason that you’re angry, I honestly think that. It happened to Chloe (Carroll) in my year and I think it’s so unfair.

Laura Sharrad and Khanh Ong.
Laura Sharrad and Khanh Ong.

“Laura is young, she is very, very beautiful and so people want to tear her down. It’s 2020 we do not have time for that anymore. We’re fighting for equal rights, we should not be tearing each other down,” he said.

Khanh’s comments echo those made by Brendan who spoke to news.com.au last month and insisted Laura is “amazing”.

“I became close with her and she’s very giving,” Brendan 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.”

RELATED: Test your Queen Bey knowledge in our Beyonce quiz

MasterChef’s Brendan Pang has defended Laura Sharrad. Picture: Thomas Davidson
MasterChef’s Brendan Pang has defended Laura Sharrad. Picture: Thomas Davidson

HOW SHE’S UPSET VIEWERS

After her first stint on MasterChef, Laura landed a job working for Jock Zonfrillo at his Orana restaurant.

At the start of this season, some viewers felt Laura’s previous relationship with the new judge gave her an unfair advantage.

But Jock denied that was the case, telling The Daily Telegraph: “I said it in the first tasting, there is no favouritism, just to be clear. If anything, Laura will be at a disadvantage carrying the weight of cooking for her mentor.”

Still, that hasn’t stopped viewers from suggesting Laura has received preferential treatment.

Laura’s attitude has also been criticised by fans throughout the season.

Viewers were less than impressed with her behaviour towards Sarah Tiong after the latter struggled to complete a challenge to replicate a ‘Black Box’ dessert.

After the challenge, Laura bounded over to check in on a visibly emotional Sarah.

“Tiong! Tiong! Come on. What’s wrong? What’s wrong? What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” she asked, giving her fellow contestant a hug before repeatedly asking her how she’d botched the cook: “What’d you miss? What’d you miss? What’d you miss? What’d you miss?”

Sarah slumped down with her head in her hands. “Just give me a second.”

“OK … I’m just gonna hug everyone else,” said Laura as she retreated.

The pair’s awkward encounter didn’t go unnoticed by MasterChef viewers:

A week later, Laura was criticised by some viewers for how she treated fan favourite Reece Hignell during a “relay” team challenge.

As Laura watched teammate Reece struggle to cook a piece of fish on the season’s favourite kitchen gadget – the hibachi grill – she grew increasingly frustrated, throwing her hands up at one point and muttering, “Oh my god,” under her breath.

“If he undercooks this fish, I’m going to cry,” she said while watching Reece opt to use a pan instead of persisting with hibachi grill’s roaring flame around the raw piece of fish.

When the team members were let back in to the kitchen from their position outside, Laura was quick to criticise Reece’s cooking, this time to his face.

“What did you do to that fish?” she yelled from one end of the kitchen to a downcast Reece.

IS THE TIDE TURNING?

There are signs that fans are starting to ease up on Laura after criticising her all season.

During last night’s immunity challenge, Laura was praised on social media for her encouraging words towards the contestants from her position up in the gantry.

Laura is one of the final eight contestants left on MasterChef: Back To Win and according to Sportsbet she is the second favourite to win behind Emelia Jackson.

MasterChef continues on Sunday night at 7.30pm on Channel 10

Originally published as MasterChef Australia: What we’re all getting wrong about Laura Sharrad

Read related topics:MasterChef

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/masterchef-australia-what-were-all-getting-wrong-about-laura-sharrad/news-story/d268501282c5bea6a92963eb40869e2b