Melissa Leong breaks silence after Jock Zonfrillo’s widow sparks feud rumors… after food critic’s surprise departure from MasterChef Australia: ‘It’s about being real’

Former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong has broken her silence after her late co-star Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried sparked rumors of a behind-the-scenes feud.

Fried raised eyebrows last week after she conspicuously failed to mention Leong, 42, in a post responding to the new MasterChef Australia line-up.

She also appeared to attack Leong again, saying that the new judges “respect the privilege of being part of an extraordinary show.”

Speaking to the media on Friday for the first time since the feud rumors surfaced, Leong defended her strong personality and insisted she won’t stop being “unapologetic” about herself.

“I like to be direct. “I like to be so real in everything I strive for that it comes from the heart,” said the food critic Herald Sun.

Former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong, 42, (pictured) has broken her silence after her late co-star Jock Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried sparked rumors of a behind-the-scenes feud

“We’re all human, people are complex and it’s allowed to have days off.” For me it’s about being authentic and that resonates with people.”

The upcoming sixteenth season of MasterChef Australia will feature three new judges – series alum Poh Ling Yeow, Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and food critic Sofia Levin – alongside returning host Andy Allen.

Leong, who appeared as a judge on the reality hit for four years, claims she left the show “on her own terms”.

Fried (with her late husband Jock) raised eyebrows last week after she conspicuously failed to mention Leong, 42, in a post responding to the new MasterChef Australia line-up

Speaking to the media on Friday for the first time since the feud rumors surfaced, Leong defended her strong personality and insisted she won’t stop being “unapologetic” about herself

Meanwhile, she remains part of the Ten family and will present Dessert Masters, a spin-off series from MasterChef, alongside Swiss-French pastry prodigy Amaury Guichon.

This comes after Jock’s widow Fried shared on Instagram that Zonfrillo was “very happy” with the new cast of MasterChef Australia.

Her remark sparked speculation that Jock, who died of natural causes on April 30 aged 46, was not getting along with Leong behind the scenes.

Leong, who appeared as a judge on the reality hit for four years, claims she left the show “on her own terms”. Pictured: Leong with the late Jock Zonfrilo (l) and Andy Allen (r)

In a lengthy post, Fried raved about Allen’s return to the franchise and congratulated Ling Yeow and Novelli on their new roles, but – somewhat tellingly – made no mention of Leong’s departure or her four years on the series.

The announcement of the new line-up came following rumors of tensions between the judges.

When Leong did not attend The Sunday Project’s moving tribute to Zonfrillo a week after his death, he caused a stir.

Leong, meanwhile, remains part of the Ten family and will present Dessert Masters, a spin-off series from MasterChef, alongside Swiss-French pastry prodigy Amaury Guichon (right).

Allen and renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Curtis Stone shared their memories in the heartbreaking special.

It was noticeable that Leong was missing, but he did not appear on the show.

“There was a very emotional tribute from Andy to The Project and it was surprising that Melissa wasn’t sitting next to him,” an insider tells Daily Mail Australia.

This comes after Jock’s widow Fried shared on Instagram that Zonfrillo was “very happy” with the new cast of MasterChef Australia

“You would have thought they would take on the media together.” Especially since the company said they were all best friends.

“It was quite strange that Melissa went into hiding during this time, and yet it was quite wise to uphold her decision to leave the program until now.”

A few months after The Project special, Leong explained that the grieving process was a quiet one for her after she was criticized for not attending a special tribute to her late co-star.

The announcement of the new line-up came following rumors of tensions between the judges

“We all deal with loss differently, and we have to respect that,” she wrote in a column for Stellar magazine.

“Some people need to speak to process emotions, while others need more time to find the words, if they can at all,” she continued.

“Some people need to be around people, while others need time alone to stare at a wall, clean non-stop, or sleep.