Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 2 hrs ago
Maru Botana defends her tasting on MasterChef and condemns attacks on a child
Maru Botana defended her judging on Argentina’s MasterChef Celebrity after viewers questioned how little she seemed to taste.
She said she eats small portions and has more than 30 years of cooking experience.
Nine-year-old Toto faced hostile messages after appearing on MasterChef Junior, the children’s version of the cooking show.
He had commented on a teammate’s hamburger during a team challenge, and later posted a tearful video asking people to stop attacking him.
Toto had apologized to his teammate Ámbar, and his mother said he had also comforted her after the challenge.
Botana said the children’s show should be treated as a game and said she was sorry the boy had been targeted.
Maru Botana defended her small tastings of dishes on MasterChef Celebrity, saying she eats very little and can judge food from her professional experience.
She also condemned hostile messages directed at Toto, a nine-year-old contestant on MasterChef Junior.
Toto posted a tearful video asking people to stop attacking him after he read messages about his appearance on the show.
The criticism followed a team challenge in which Toto commented on a hamburger made by his teammate Ámbar.
Botana said the children’s programme should be treated as a game.
- Who
- Maru Botana, a MasterChef Celebrity judge, addressed criticism of her tastings and attacks on Toto, a nine-year-old MasterChef Junior contestant.
- What
- Botana defended her tasting style and condemned hostile messages sent to Toto.
- When
- After MasterChef Junior’s version with children premiered; the article was published on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- The comments were reported in an interview on SQP, broadcast by América TV.
- Why
- Botana faced criticism over how she tasted dishes, while Toto received hostile messages after a team challenge.
Critics of Botana's tastings
Maru Botana
Tasting style
Critics of Botana's tastings
Critics questioned her small portions, separating ingredients and inspecting dishes with utensils.
Maru Botana
Botana said she eats very little and can judge food based on more than 30 years of cooking.
Toto received hostile messages after a team challenge in which he commented on Ámbar’s hamburger.
Toto posted a tearful video asking people to stop attacking him.
Infobae reported Botana’s defence of her tastings and her response to the attacks on Toto.
- Botana's cooking experience
- More than 30 years
- Toto's age
- 9 years old
- Programme
- MasterChef Junior
- Toto's teammate
- Ámbar
- Interview programme
- SQP on América TV
What people are saying
I eat very little, like a little bird.
I’ve been cooking for more than thirty years. I know when things taste good, and when they’re right or wrong.
We’re really sorry. We’re not prepared for these things.
I’m being “hated” and, honestly, it’s affecting me a lot.