My Kitchen Rules judge Colin Fassnidge made a lighthearted remark about Meghan Markle during the Logie Awards at The Star Sydney on Sunday night. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Fassnidge, 52, quipped that his show, My Kitchen Rules (MKR), would not invite the Duchess of Sussex to appear.
"We are MKR... we don't allow people of non-royalty onto our show!" Fassnidge said, referencing Meghan's royal status. He added, "Whatever floats your boat... she is not in my boat!"
Fassnidge's comments come after Meghan's appearance on Channel Ten's MasterChef Australia last month. The judges of MasterChef Australia, however, shared a different perspective on working with the Duchess.
Poh Ling, a judge on MasterChef Australia, posted a clip of herself with Meghan, describing them as "instant besties." Fellow judge Sofia Levin remarked that it was "pretty hard to stay starstruck when a person is so lovely," and noted the contestants' surprise at Meghan's arrival.
Jean-Christophe Novelli, another MasterChef Australia judge, expressed his delight, calling Meghan's visit an "unexpected last-minute surprise" and highlighting the "tremendous seasonal ingredients" she brought. The episode was filmed in Melbourne during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Australian visit in April, challenging contestants to create a dish "fit for a duchess" using ingredients like strawberries, lemons, and artichokes.
Social media users who watched Meghan's MasterChef appearance described her as "graceful," "down to earth," and "genuinely nice," with some calling her one of the program's most impressive celebrity guests. Her appearance on the show, which featured ingredients associated with her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, allowed viewers to see a different side of the Duchess.