MasterChef fans call the show 'rigged' after finale

Last night, Emilia Jackson was crowned the winner of MasterChef Australia 2020, with delighted fans rushing to social media to congratulate the 30-year-old.

However, many just couldn’t get over the fact that Reynold Poernomo didn’t make it to the finale, going so far as to call the show ‘rigged’.

Emilia Jackson, took home the trophy and $250,000, after battling it out with Laura Sharrad from South Australia for the coveted Back To Win title.

However, the night before, in the semi-final, dessert king Reynold was booted from the show after failing to impress the judges during a pressure test set by three- hatted chef Martin Benn.

“What a waste watching #Masterchef this year. Absolutely rigged finale - after all these weeks of intently watching every episode I don't even care about the grand final lol,” one person wrote.

“Reynold didn’t win masterchef 2020 it just needs to get cancelled!!!!!!!!!! Ugh,” another said.

Another person Tweeted in all caps lock, saying it’s “bloody disgraceful” and called out both MasterChef and The Voice for both being “rigged”.

Reynold took to his Instagram account after he was eliminated, saying he was “truly humbled, grateful, privileged, blessed and honored to be given a second chance to come back to this incredible competition.”

“HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to @laurasharrad @emelia_jackson - two lifelong friends and talented cooks. Wish you both nothing but the absolute best of luck for the Grand Finale. It’s one last hurdle and whoever lifts that glorious trophy, deserves it! We’ve all been put through some crazy rough challenges, and only the best deserves to lift that trophy,” he wrote.

He also uploaded a video of him making his now famous Snitch dessert to Instagram, alongside the caption: “I’ve got some exciting news coming up and it’s got something to do with YouTube. Stay tuned and enjoy this little tease.”

Meanwhile, Emilia looked shellshocked in a video on Instagram after the news of her win was announced last night.

“What the hell just happened? I cannot believe this, I just cannot believe that I have won Masterchef Back To Win,” Emilia said.

Emilia also took to her Instagram account just after the news of her win was announced to thank everyone who has supported her along the way.

“Had you have told me that 6 years later I’d be standing here, having just done the entire crazy thing again, I would have laughed,” she said.

“What an incredible time it has been, my MasterChef. A pivotal part of my growth in my 20s and now the perfect way to begin the next decade of my life.

“How lucky am i to have had such an exciting, fun and nostalgic adventure during what has been no doubt the worst year of many peoples lives. I am eternally grateful for the experience and the opportunity.”

She went on to thank the judges, Melissa Leong, Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo and her “fierce competition” Laura Sharrad.

“Incredible, intelligent woman, successful business owner and loyal friend, I am eternally grateful to know you Loz,” she wrote.

After thanking her family and friends, she acknowledged all the people who have sent her well-wishes in her DMs which hasn’t gone ‘unnoticed’.

“They have made this exceptional experience, even more spectacular,” she wrote.

Emilia revealed the next step for her is baking classes, a brand new line of cake mixes (which have already sold out), a baking bible and “maybe a sneaky choux patisserie”.

Runner-up, Laura, didn’t go home empty-handed, with the judges announcing she was heading off with $30,000.

Both Laura and Emilia took to the pass in a nail-biting service challenge, dishing up over 60 plates each, including entrees, mains and desserts for the judges and all the returning contestants from the season.

Things got off to a shaky start for Emilia, with her beef short ribs taking longer to cook than she anticipated, leaving judge Andy Allen to ask her if it was time to switch to plan B,

Meanwhile, fans felt a wave of sympathy for Laura after she grabbed the handle of a scalding hot pan, burning her hand, meaning she spent the majority of the rest of the show cooking with just one hand.

However, that didn’t seem to stop her, as the judges raved over her Bonito with lilly pilly and saltbush entree.

“It was technically perfect,” Andy said with Jock calling it the “perfect Australian dish”.

As for Emilia’s scallop entree, Jock said it was one of his favourite entrees he’s tasted this year.

Then it was time for the contestants to plate up their mains, with Laura pulling it out of the park with her pork, butter roasted turnips and muntries with thyme, massala and sage sauces.

Melissa called the munties “magical” and commended her knowledge of Australian produce, while Andy called the dish “challenging but in a good way”.

Emilia was worried her main course of beef short ribs with pepper and onion would be too dry but she needn't have sweated it because yet again, the judges couldn’t compliment her dish enough.

“It’s like a schnitzel on steroids. I’m in a state of cat-like happiness. It is so good,” Jock said, smiling as he looked down at an empty plate.

Melissa agreed saying: “I think she has made the right choice to commit to making it exactly how she wants it because it has paid off and it’s gorgeous.”

It was neck to neck, with Emilia breaking down in tears just before the dessert was served as the pressure of the environment overwhelmed her.

Laura also battled through her emotions as she plated up her unusual dessert of Jerusalem artichoke gelato, caramel, crispy skin and cumquat gel.

The judges weren’t impressed with her ice-cream, with Melissa calling it ‘icy’. Andy enjoyed the flavour profile however the texture of the ice cream put him off.

Melissa said the crumb left her feeling like she had ‘sandiness stuck in her teeth’ and while Jock called the crisp ‘fantastic’, he was also left underwhelmed by the ice cream.

“It’s intelligent, it’s sophisticated. It has familiarity and comfort and warmth,” Melissa said about Laura’s menu.

Emilia was worried about the pistachio and Davidson plum combination in her dessert but said that in her mind, they just worked.

And it seemed she was right, with the judges smiling at each other as soon as they tasted the vibrant creation.

“Emilia has managed to show us French patisserie magic,” Melissa said, with Andy saying the balance of flavours was perfect.

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