Yahoo Lifestyle My Kitchen Rules' Cowboy Robert: 'Why I quit Oz'
MKR's Robert and Lynzey open up to New Idea about their recent family tragedy. Photos: New Idea
My Kitchen Rules’ charismatic Texan has revealed his plans to quit Australia – and his new celebrity status – to return to the US on a mercy mission.
Former cowboy Robert has recently been through two heartbreaking tragedies – the first of which was losing his sister Maxine in a car accident, while in the middle of filming My Kitchen Rules with his daughter Lynzey.
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"Even though Maxine was thousands of kilometres away, she was the closest person to me that I knew," Robert, 61, tells New Idea exclusively.
Arriving back in Australia just before the challenge rounds started, Robert and Lynzey were both visibly shaken on TV, and the tragedy clearly took its toll on the pair’s cooking.
"It took a lot out of us, and look, to be really good in that competition you’re going to have to be at the top of your game," Robert says.
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Adding to the torment of losing his sister, who was 63, the popular contestant now carries guilt that his mother Kay, who has dementia, no longer has any immediate family in Texas.
"She’s got all kind of problems and I’ve got nobody to look after her," Robert explains as tears well up in his eyes. "She’s still not doing real good. I’m still trying to help her all I can, I just don’t know what to do."
Though retired himself, the dedicated son bought his mum a house and tries to pay all of her bills. But he still struggles with the idea of her being alone.
My Kitchen Rules airs Monday to Thursday, 7:30pm (AEDT) on Channel Seven. Head to au.tv.yahoo.com/my-kitchen-rules for all the latest MKR news.
To read the rest of Robert's interview, pick up this week's New Idea magazine, on sale now!
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