Poh Ling Yeow has defended the Duchess of Sussex against reported on-set tensions, expressing greater admiration for Meghan ahead of their upcoming appearance together on Junior MasterChef Australia.
Meghan Markle has received public support from MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow following reports of tensions during the Duchess of Sussex’s guest appearance on the cooking competition.
Speaking to Pedestrian.TV in a video shared on 28 October, Yeow praised Meghan’s resilience, describing her as a woman with a “will of steel” and saying the experience had left her with “even more admiration” for Prince Harry’s wife.
“Honestly, that was a really … experience, to actually watch the fallout,” Yeow said, reflecting on the media attention surrounding Meghan’s appearance earlier this year.
Reports had suggested that Meghan and her team were unhappy with her on-air introduction, particularly the use of the word “royalty”. However, representatives for both sides dismissed claims of a disagreement.
A source close to Meghan told People that she had enjoyed filming alongside the judges, describing suggestions of tensions as false. Yeow also previously said she had a “lovely time” working with the Duchess.
The Australian television personality acknowledged that the controversy had been eye-opening, explaining that she had gained a greater understanding of the scrutiny Meghan faces.
In an earlier radio interview in August, Yeow said she had “nothing to complain about at all” regarding her filming experience, adding that the situation had shown her how intense the attention surrounding Meghan could be.
Meanwhile, Meghan is preparing to reunite with Yeow on Junior MasterChef Australia. According to Yeow, the Duchess will appear throughout the children’s cooking show’s season rather than making a one-off guest appearance.
In a video shared on Instagram, Yeow said many people assumed Meghan would appear in only one episode, clarifying that she would be involved for the entire season.
Yeow also revealed that she had not spoken to Meghan since the announcement became public, joking that the secret had been revealed before she could make the announcement at the television industry’s Upfronts event.
The upcoming programme will bring the pair together again following the earlier media controversy, with Yeow’s latest comments offering a positive account of their working relationship.