A Muslim contestant’s religious refusal to handle pork during MasterChef Spain has ignited fierce online controversy after judges responded by placing her into elimination rounds, with viewers sharply divided over whether the programme should have accommodated her beliefs.
The viral exchange saw Gambian-born nurse Soko inform the judging panel she would not cook pork under any circumstances, stating: “If something is haram, if it’s forbidden, then if you can’t eat it, you shouldn’t handle it either. For me, my religion is more important than anything else.”
Judges responded bluntly by telling her “Here, you come to cook everything” before handing her a black apron signalling entry into the elimination round—a decision that has prompted accusations the programme failed respecting religious and cultural sensitivities.
The controversy follows Soko’s earlier criticism during the same episode for misusing an expensive entrecôte steak attempting to create sauce after failing to locate her originally desired ingredients, with one judge remarking: “This pot is worth €150. This dish would be priceless.”
Despite apologising and admitting she had failed to “respect the product,” the situation escalated when discussion turned to pork preparation, with her religious stance ultimately placing her at elimination risk before judges ultimately sent home fellow contestant Vicente instead.
The incident represents the latest flashpoint in MasterChef franchise’s repeated struggles handling religious and cultural considerations across international editions, with Australia’s version witnessing similar controversies.
MasterChef Australia contestants Amina Elshafei and Samira El Khafir both exited the competition during pork-based challenges in consecutive years, though Ms Elshafei returned for the 2020 Back to Win series where she encountered another dilemma involving non-halal beef.
Unable to taste the dish herself, a fellow contestant stepped in providing feedback—an accommodation highlighting the challenges religious contestants face navigating mainstream cooking competitions designed around ingredients and techniques potentially conflicting with their beliefs.
MasterChef UK 2012 winner Shelina Permalloo previously highlighted difficulties navigating a food industry heavily centred around alcohol, which she does not consume for religious reasons, whilst the franchise has faced broader cultural controversies including 2018’s “RendangGate” scandal.
That incident saw judges accused of cultural ignorance after criticising a traditional Malaysian dish for not being “crispy,” demonstrating recurring tensions between competition formats and diverse culinary traditions.
Online responses to Soko’s situation remain polarised, with some criticising the programme for placing her in that position whilst others defend the judges’ insistence contestants must handle all ingredients regardless of personal beliefs.
