MasterChef’s Melissa Leong calls out Georgia Love after ‘racist’ post

Melissa Leong has blasted Georgia Love’s recent Instagram post, saying that she feels ‘betrayed’ and ‘completely bummed’ over her ‘casual racism’.

The former Bachelorette was criticised - and quickly apologised - on Monday for posting a video of a cat sitting in the window of an Asian restaurant.

“Shop attendant or lunch?!” she captioned the post alongside a shocked emoji and a cry-laughing emoji.

After receiving backlash from her followers, it didn’t take long for Georgia to delete the video and issue a lengthy apology.

“I meant for this to be a joke about an animal being in a restaurant at lunch service time,” she began.

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“I meant absolutely no insinuation about the type of animal nor the type of restaurant, but I see that my post did not come across like that and was offensive.”

“I sincerely apologise for the oversight and offence I have caused. Thank you to those who called me out.

“This is what we need to make sure we are all accountable and do better. Again, I apologise from the bottom of my heart for the offence caused.”

Popular ‘watchdog’ Instagram account Aussie Influencer Opinions later uploaded a joke of similar nature posted on Georgia’s page in 2013.

The meme showed two storefronts, an ‘animal hospital’ next to a restaurant called ‘China Chef’, and a cartoon dog alongside the text: ‘That’s suspicious…’.

“Best.” the Seven News Melbourne presenter captioned the now-deleted post.

A number of celebrities have since weighed in on the saga, including MasterChef judge Melissa Leong who labelled Georgia’s actions as ‘insidious’.

“‘Shop attendant or lunch?’, posted on a video of a cat in a Chinese restaurant by someone I know, who also happens to carry a fair amount of influence,” Melissa captioned her Instagram Story on Wednesday.

“Casual racism from nice people is possibly the most betraying and insidious kind. Not angry, just completely bummed that this video exists and that it isn’t the first joke of this kind made by her.

“Georgia, I really hope your remorse is real and that you grow in the right direction, because this stuff hurts more people, more than you think. We must be allies for each other for a better world for all.”

Channel Seven has reportedly launched an investigation into Georgia’s social media posts and is “taking the matter seriously”, according to The Daily Telegraph.

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