Meghan Markle Slammed With Another Petition as She Makes TV Comeback With 'MasterChef'

While some fans are excited to see Meghan return to television, others are questioning whether she is the right person for the job.

Meghan Markle’s latest career move has put her back in the spotlight, but not everyone is happy about it. While some fans are excited to see the Duchess of Sussex return to Australian television, others are questioning whether she is the right person for the job. Her new role has already sparked a debate, with some people making their feelings clear online.

Markle has recently been confirmed as a co-host of Junior MasterChef Australia, and as expected, the announcement received mixed reactions. However, in an unexpected move, an online petition calling for her removal from the show quickly gained hundreds of supporters. Titled 'Remove Meghan Markle From Junior MasterChef Australia,' the petition on Change.org questioned the decision to choose the Duchess for the role instead of Australian talent. As of now, the petition has over 3500 verified signatures.

The backlash comes at a time when Australia is celebrating its culinary talent. Earlier this month, South Australia received its first-ever Michelin stars, with 10 restaurants earning one star and another receiving two stars. Against this backdrop, some believe that the opportunity should have gone to someone from Australia's own food industry. Turning to X (formerly Twitter), an activist supported the petition and wrote, "I have signed the petition opposing Meghan Markle’s appearance on Junior MasterChef Australia."

Explaining their stance, they added, "Any adult who is alleged to have remained silent in the face of potential s*xual abuse of a child, particularly where there may be concerns that the abuse could be ongoing, must be subject to serious scrutiny. The welfare of children must always take precedence over celebrity, reputation or commercial interests." For the unversed, the remark comes in the wake of the accusations levied against the Duchess' father, Thomas Markle Sr.

Another netizen commented, "I’ve signed it too; now you told me about it. It’s not appropriate for her to be on that show - especially now."

The petition mirrors a previous petition on the same platform that gathered over 35,000 to 36,000 signatures demanding that Prince Harry and Markle's private trip to Australia in April 2026 receive no taxpayer funding

However, this time not everyone is against her casting, especially as, according to figures released by Channel 10, Markle's guest appearance on the show this year attracted 1.6 million viewers. The episode recorded the show's biggest overnight Sunday audience since July 2023 and set a new record for its largest-ever overnight streaming audience, with 118,000 viewers. The Duchess is expected to film Junior MasterChef Australia in Melbourne in early-to-mid 2027. For now, her appointment has divided opinion, with some looking forward to her return and others questioning the decision.