MasterChef fans question why Jock Zonfrillo’s co-star Melissa Leong didn’t take part in tribute
MasterChef fans wonder why Jock Zonfrillo’s co-star Melissa Leong didn’t join The Sunday Project’s hour-long tribute to the late chef: ‘It’s kind of weird’
The Sunday Project devoted their entire show to a touching tribute to Jock Zonfrillo following the MasterChef Australia star’s shocking death at the age of 46.
Jock’s fellow judge Andy Allen and celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Curtis Stone all shared their memories in the heartbreaking special.
Noticeably missing was Jock’s co-star Melissa Leong, who did not appear on the program.
MasterChef fans posted to Twitter wondering why Melissa was absent, with several speculating that she was too sad to participate.
“Is it weird that Melissa isn’t part of this?” one person asked on Twitter, as several others responded.
The Sunday Project devoted their entire show to a touching tribute to Jock Zonfrillo following the MasterChef Australia star’s shocking death at the age of 46. Noticeably missing was Jock’s co-star Melissa Leong (pictured), who did not appear on the program.
MasterChef fans posted to Twitter wondering why Melissa was absent, with several speculating that she was too sad to participate. Pictured with Jock and Andy Allen
‘It’s a bit, yes…’ one agreed, but others thought otherwise.
‘No? Everyone grieves differently. It may be too early for her to speak/open up. I hope she’s okay,” said one.
Another wrote, “Andy had it hard enough as it is. I think Melissa just couldn’t do it. Everyone grieves differently, and people only talk about that grief when they are (or never) ready for it.’
Someone else said, “Not at all. If you’re not in the space to do it, you can’t do it,” while another agreed, “I don’t think she could. She was shattered.
“Maybe she’s still processing it and it would be too much for her,” said yet another.
“Is it weird that Melissa isn’t part of this?” one person asked on Twitter, as several others responded
Last week, Melissa pulled out of a scheduled event at the Sydney Opera House following the death of her co-host Jock
‘She was his ‘work woman’ Would have been so hard. Well done to Andy for sharing his thoughts/sadness. Saddest week ever,’ speculated another.
Last week, Melissa pulled out of a scheduled event at the Sydney Opera House following the death of her co-host Jock.
Leong was supposed to hold a live Q&A with American cookbook author Alison Roman on Tuesday, but it was announced on Thursday that she would no longer be attending.
“Following the sad news of the passing of her colleague and friend Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong will no longer be able to speak to Alison Roman on Tuesday, May 9,” a Sydney Opera House spokesperson said in an email to ticket holders.
Leong will be replaced by MasterChef Australia season two winner Adam Liaw.
Zonfrillo was found dead by police at approximately 2am on 1 May at a hotel in inner north Melbourne, the same day Channel Ten was due to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.
Zonfrillo was found dead by police at around 2am on 1 May in a hotel in inner north Melbourne, the same day Channel Ten was due to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.