Petition seeks to oust Meghan Markle from Master Chef Junior amid fan backlash
Before a single camera rolls, Meghan Markle’s new Australian TV role has set off an unexpected online campaign — and it’s already drawing fresh scrutiny.
Australian broadcaster Network 10 said on October 27 that Meghan Markle will make an appearance on Junior MasterChef Australia , the kids’ edition of the cooking competition. The network hasn’t detailed what her role entails, but the announcement alone was enough to set off a wave of online reaction.
Within days, a Change.org petition titled “Remove Meghan Markle From Junior Masterchef Australia!” urged producers to rethink the booking. The petition questions her suitability for a children’s show and invokes allegations surrounding her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr. Those claims concern him, not her.
According to reports, Thomas Markle Sr. is under investigation by Philippine authorities over allegations involving child sexual abuse material; he has denied wrongdoing. There is no evidence Meghan was involved in any alleged conduct, and the petition’s accusations against her are unsubstantiated. She has previously said she became aware of troubling allegations years ago and believed authorities were looking into them.
As of now, Network 10 hasn’t indicated any change to Markle’s involvement with Junior MasterChef Australia.
Earlier casting swirl
This isn’t the first time a possible TV gig for Markle has turned into a headline chase. In August, reports suggested she was in talks to join Season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen on Netflix . Star Theo James tamped that down quickly.
“mainly a lot of hot air.” — Theo James, addressing the Meghan casting chatter
Not long after, Page Six reported Markle never received a formal offer, saying an early conversation with a casting director had been blown out of proportion. A source described as close to Markle argued the frenzy benefited Netflix publicity-wise, calling it:
“the oldest marketing trick in the book.”
A production source pushed back on that idea, insisting the series didn’t need stunt casting to move the needle.
Junior MasterChef Australia airs in Australia on Network 10; the network has not announced any alteration to Markle’s planned appearance since the Oct. 27 reveal.