MasterChef star apologises as 'venomous' anti-gay rant slammed

MasterChef favourite Reynold Poernomo has apologised after homophobic comments made in 2014 surfaced this week.

The chef found himself in hot water after homophobic comments he wrote on a bodybuilding site’s forum about gay people in 2014 were found, sending shockwaves through fans.

Daily Mail Australia reports that the comments appeared on a thread entitled: “First gay couple featured on the Disney Channel. Do you agree with them?”.

Reynold under the username ‘ReyRey’ described homosexuals as ‘freaks’ and called for them to be marooned on an island.

“I wish the world made a united decision where they will capture all gay people and put them on a remote island full of gays, that way straight [people] will be happy and the freaks can go on and f*** themselves,” He wrote.

In response to a forum entitled, “Is homosexuality a mental illness?” he wrote simply ‘Yes, end of thread’.

Reynold issues apology for homophobic comments

Now the star has responded to the alleged comments with an apology released through Channel 10 in which he says he regrets the comments ‘immensely’.

“I would like to offer my sincere and deepest apologies for the comments that I made in 2014,” he said in the statement. “I am ashamed of these comments and I regret them immensely.”

“At the time these comments were made, I was a very immature, close-minded and insular 20-year-old. I have grown and matured a lot in the last six years. I am not the person I was back then.”

“I have many friends and colleagues that are part of the LGBTQI+ community. I wholeheartedly support them and care deeply for them. I am truly sorry and apologise for any offence or hurt I caused.”

Fans threaten to boycott over comments

It comes as fans react to the revelation online, with many threatening to boycott the show.

“The channel needs to boot him off he needs to make a public [apology],” one fan wrote.

“It’s just killed it for me,” another man wrote on Twitter. “I was a big fan of the show, but that bigoted attitude of Reynold’s was articulated with such venom. No coming back from that for me. No more Masterchef for me.”

Others wrote they believed the chef had changed, pointing out much can shift between the ages of 20 and 26.

“People grow and change and until someone has anything more recent I both believe and forgive him,” one fan wrote.

“I just know for myself that I did some very very very stupid things when I was 20, and that no one is perfect,” another pointed out.

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