Meghan Markle’s Reported 6-Figure MasterChef Cameo Sparks Growing Backlash
Meghan's cameo on MasterChef comes after several other celebrity appearances on the show.
During their recent visit to Australia, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have perfectly balanced both joint appearances and a series of solo engagements, highlighting their individual interests. For instance, Meghan visited a women’s shelter where she connected with vulnerable communities, and even secretly filmed an episode of the 18th season of the popular cooking show MasterChef Australia. While her fans have expressed their excitement and support, many have also criticized her, considering the hefty fee that she has allegedly charged for the appearance.
The Duchess of Sussex filmed the episode on April 15, and it will air sometime in the summer since the series begins to air this Sunday. Meghan will appear alongside other regular judges, including Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow, and Sofia Levin. Welcoming her on the show, judge Lin Yeow said, "We've had MasterChef royalty in the kitchen before, but no one like this. All the way from sunny California... the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!" It's worth noting that Meghan's cameo comes after several other high-profile celebrity appearances on the show, including Katy Perry, Gordon Ramsay, and Jamie Oliver, as reported by Sky News.
As per the official sources, Perry charged a whopping $100,000 for her appearance in 2020, and some well-known TV commentators are now predicting that Meghan's fee might be even higher. As per news outlet TV Blackbox, sources have suggested that her appearance fee could be somewhere around $380,000. That said, neither the show’s producers nor Network 10 has officially confirmed these reports yet. Nevertheless, social media users have been divided in their opinions on these claims.
One X (formerly Twitter) user, who goes by the username @StephanieSidley, wrote, "Meghan Markle spent the day collecting another paycheck from MasterChef Australia. They introduce her as 'Royalty' & 'the Duchess of Sussex.' This trip was never about veterans or mental health." Similarly, @BeesanEnigma wrote, "The only reason the faux royal couple is here is for money. There is no other reason for them to visit Australia. This trip comes across as calculated & self-promotional rather than authentic. It’s hard to take them seriously, & their public image continues to decline globally."
However, several others chimed in to defend Meghan, noting that since the royal couple is no longer working royals, it's fair that they have started thinking of earning their own income independently. For instance, @GlowanneLee stated, "One thing that is now clear (and has always been) is that though Prince Harry and Meghan were told to make their own money, they actually doing so has unleashed such a level of spite in the establishment and its foot soldiers." Meanwhile, this isn’t Meghan's only money-making avenue; she is also set to hold a retreat in Sydney, where fans can pay up to $3,199 for a photo opportunity with the royal.
