MKR's Simone and Viviana respond to 'cheating' allegations: 'Nothing wrong'

EXCLUSIVE: The 2024 winners have weighed in on ‘illegal’ ingredient used in Tuesday night's finale.

MKR’s Simone and Viviana / Fergus cooking with canned tomatoes.
MKR’s Simone and Viviana have shared their thoughts on Caz and Fergus using canned tomatoes in their dish. Photos: Channel Seven

My Kitchen Rules fans have called out one of this year’s grand final teams for “cheating” after they spotted a rather odd detail in Tuesday night’s episode. Caz and Fergus and Simone and Viviana went head-to-head in the finale as they battled against the clock and each served an impressive four-course menu to the judges.

‘Modern Italians’ Simone and Viviana were ultimately crowned champions when they received a score of 27 out of 30, just two points higher than their competitors. While runner-ups Caz and Fergus have since been praised on social media for their efforts in the finale, many people have questioned how they were allowed to use canned tomatoes in their dish.

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One viewer even went so far as to say the mother-and-son duo had broken the rules by cooking with the pre-packaged ingredient, writing: “Canned tomatoes should equate to cheating.”

“I noticed they used canned tomatoes for the sauce. Must be okay now, but it was a no-no in the early years of MKR,” another added, while someone else said, “Yes, an absolute fail usually”.

MKR’s Fergus cooking with canned tomatoes.
Some viewers believed canned tomatoes ‘should equate to cheating’. Photo: Channel Seven

Although viewers seemed set on the fact that the ingredient shouldn’t be allowed in the cooking competition, Simone and Viviana tell Yahoo Lifestyle they believe “there’s nothing wrong with canned tomatoes”.

“I don’t think it’s cheating. What are you supposed to do?” Simone remarks. “I feel like the product is good, canned tomatoes can be a very good product. I don't think it’s cheating, to be honest.

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“These people were probably mad because they saw Janey and Maddie do it and they were trying to criticise them, but I don’t think it’s a problem at all to use canned tomatoes. As long as the product is a good product, why not?”

MKR’s Fergus making spring rolls with store-bought spring roll wrappers.
Fans weren’t too happy to see Caz and Fergus using store-bought spring roll wrappers. Photo: Channel Seven

Caz and Fergus’ use of canned tomatoes wasn’t the only moment that got viewers riled up during Tuesday night’s episode, with an ingredient in their entrée also sparking debate online.

The pair decided to cook Fergburger Spring Rolls, which were essentially cheeseburger spring rolls, but appeared to use store-bought spring roll wrappers. Fans were particularly outraged as Simone and Viviana had made their own tortillas for their entrée and argued that it wasn’t “fair”.

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“Were they store-bought spring roll wrappers? I didn’t see them making them. Very underwhelming,” one person wrote.

“Used store-bought wrappers, didn't make them from scratch unlike the Italians made their own tacos,” another replied, followed by a different user who said, “The Italians had the more technical menu. It was a great competition.”

While it may have outraged viewers, the judges clearly didn’t have an issue with the store-bought wrappers and praised Caz and Fergus on the “very on-trend” and “addictive” dish.

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