Finalist Joshua dying from an apparent suicide in 2013 after struggling with bipolar disorder. He had had several run-ins with the law after the show and struggled to keep his career afloat as a result. His status as the Nice Guy of his respective season made the loss especially shocking to fans.
Cowboy Mike dedicating his time on the show to his sister, who died in a car accident just months before the start of the season.
Felix's failed effort in Episode 8's dessert challenge of the same season was another tough moment; after struggling to prepare a "free-form" tiramisu dish, the end result was a very sad-looking, sopping, and sagging pastry that didn't have the taste to make up for its depressing presentation. Felix has to present a dish she knew was dead on arrival and when the judges criticized her questionable choices, such as the addition of nuts to the dish, Felix broke down into tears. Only Graham said anything to try to soften the blow she had been dealt, only to be followed up by Gordon deeming it her worst performance up to that point. For many of her fellow competitors, it was a difficult spectacle to have to witness, and Felix ended up in the Bottom Three that evening. Thankfully, she was spared from elimination.
Season 4
Bime’s elimination. For some unexplained reason, people disliked him, and Krissi especially hated him. During the team challenge, he was placed by team captain Krissi to prepare fried chicken, and felt responsible for the loss when some of the pieces turned out raw. The following day it was announced that he was actually the main contributor for most of their votes, since their team actually won the fried chicken bout. Despite knowing this information, Krissi decided to make Bime compete in the Pressure Test, while she saved herself. What made the situation worse is that Bime made a huge mistake while making his lime pie, and Krissi was mercilessly laughing at him. By the time he was given the chance to return to the competition, the only person who applauded for him was Luca.
Lynn's rough finish was a shocker after his exceptionally strong performance through the entire first half of the season. During Episode 13's dessert challenge, he presented a baked meringue topped with banana puree, strawberries, and banana slices. Lynn struggled during the challenge and before the judges had even tasted it, you could how disappointed he was in himself. Gordon was astonished at how unappealing the dish was, and after tasting it called it the worst dish he had ever seen on the show. Everyone else in the room was visibly shocked at just how badly things went. However, Lynn was able to leave with his head held high despite the devastating loss as the judges made no secret of their opinion that Lynn had proven himself a great chef in his own right.
Kathy counts as well, after a harrowing pressure test left her as one of four contestants at risk. A subsequent test in the following episode left her and Luca to compete against each other for the chance to stay in the competition, with their task being to perform a lobster dish. Despite her excellent technique and the fact that her dish tasted amazing, the judges ultimately decided that Luca's was the superior dish. The judges are so torn about this that Joe and Graham's faces are visibly reddened when they announce their verdict, and Joe admits to a tearful Kathy that she had proven herself a greater chef than he had ever given her credit for. Gordon was so impressed by her performance that he offers her a chance to come to his restaurant in New York if she so chooses, an offer she thanks them for before the judges depart with Luca.
As hated as Krissi is, it did hurt to see her alone when everyone had a family member come visit. Her son couldn't come. Even Joe shed a few tears. Natasha, who has a rivalry with her, also expressed sympathy.
Season 5
Poor Tyler and his ill-fated panna cotta dish, which Gordon revealed to have been one of those prepared by Jaimee. The judges revealed that Tyler had unknowingly grabbed her ramekin from the blast chiller instead of his own in his rush to finish the dish, and he was at an utter loss for words when hit with this news. Sadly, although Gordon did state that he believed it to be a genuine accident with no ill intent, the judges could not make an exception to the rules and he was disqualified. Tyler gave a sincere apology to everyone and to Jaimee, who forgave him. The judges and many of the remaining contestants were visibly saddened about this outcome, but Tyler promised he would carry on no matter what.
Gordon Houston, who was forced to withdraw from the competition due to an unspecified illness. Even though he got better, to see such a young and ambitious contestant forced to bow out so suddenly without a proper sendoff is a tough pill to swallow. As Daniel said it best, "Damn".
Ahran's elimination in episode seven. Her team had just barely lost the team challenge, and the judges announced there would be a double elimination. Victoria had just been eliminated, and Leslie and Ahran were both in the bottom two. By this point Ahran and Leslie had come to a better understanding and respected each other, to the point where both broke down into tears after Ahran was eliminated, and Leslie even spoke in his confessional about how hard it was to see Ahran go. When Gordon asked Ahran who would win Masterchef, she responded "Leslie", and Leslie responded "Love you, girl!"
A milder version with Courtney. Even though she won the season, the circumstances of her win were, shall we say, contentious. Posts on the show's official Facebook page criticizing her got thousands of likes, and people on Twitter were outright hoping she would die in an accident - cooking or otherwise - or insulting her by saying she should use the money to "fix her ugly beak".
Andrea's elimination. She didn't get eliminated because her dish was the worst that night, but because she was 3 seconds late to getting her sausage down to the front. Even worse, it was the best sausage of the night. Everybody was really down about her leaving like this, and even the judges were conflicted on what to do.
Season 8
Adam had been in the middle of the pack and landed in the bottom twice. By episode 13, he and Caitlyn were in the bottom and had to face off against each other. The judges and the fellow contestants (including Caitlyn herself) expressed that regardless of the result, this was Adam's best performance and they were all proud of him. This immediately gets ruined when it turns out his chicken was raw in the middle, which makes Adam cry in frustration. His elimination makes it more heartwrenching when Caitlyn goes to hug him while he cries in embarrassment for the only and worst mistake he could have made in a pressure test.
Season 9
In episode 17, Bowen had a near breakdown when he knew that everybody thought that he was done and should go home. Then, it gets more heartwrenching when he told Ramsay that not even his parents supported his dream of cooking. Fortunately, Ramsay managed to calm him down, producing not only a heartwarming moment, but an awesome moment when he turned out a strong dish.
Also that same episode, Cesar was nominated for the mystery box challenge cooking with scraps and leftovers, creating a MasterChef-worthy dish utilizing scraps. Cesar tearfully explains that his late father came into this country with absolutely nothing and would often have to go looking for food in the dumpsters just to eat a meal and salvage what he could, since he didn't have a job and didn't make a lot of money. So that always meant something to Cesar, who had wanted to show how even something called scraps and leftovers could be utilized to feed someone that would have gone without otherwise. Unsurprisingly, he wins the mystery box.
Season 10
Micah's elimination. He mentioned in his first appearance that his family were going to throw him out for appearing... at 19. Then, in episode 21, the mystery box was the trademark family reunion, and Micah became the first contestant not to have anybody turn up (even Krissi got a video recording). Gordon gave him a stock pep talk, then promptly joined the other judges in chatting and joking around with everyone else's families—right in front of him. This rattled him so badly that he flounders even during the episode's pressure test.
Season 12
Derrick and Amanda's elimination. Full stop. For Amanda, she was one of the most adored chefs in the history of the competition and was generally friends with everybody. Derrick, on the other hand, was even more painful. He was so determined and driven to come back from runner up and to emerge as the winner, as he barely made any mistakes during his time in the competition, only for one challenge to knock him down, and come to the hard truth that he can't do it a third time.
International versions
Brazil's Gleice. She lost her brother a week before the show started and was visibly moved by the loss. She was very inexperienced, but still tried her best. People never gave her a chance. Comments in the Facebook page ranged from people simply without empathy to stupid people being racist. Shit really hit the fan when they had to cook Macaron. Even if her macarons were horrible, she eliminated her competition because the other participant didn't follow the rules. Do the math and you'll see why Masterchef Brazil's Facebook page could be renamed to Gleice Wars.
Canada's Jennifer. They were one of the most creative contestants, utilizing many unique plating techniques and becoming a fan favorite for their innovative style and kindness. One aspect they constantly mentioned was the loss of their father, an event that inspired them to pick up cooking, and bringing him up would often result in tears. In their final episode, Jennifer makes a dish that was heavily inspired by their father. Chef Alvin remarked that they were birds of a feather, as he had taken up cooking after his father had passed away, and said that he always had a moment in which he wished that his father was there. He assured Jennifer that their father would be proud of them, which clearly choked them up.
Indonesia's Olivia is often underestimated due to her constant presence in pressure tests. Yet she never stop have a bubbly personality whose smile endears both the contestants and the judges alike. She eventually breaks down when she admitted she know that she's always in the bottom. Seeing such a bubbly contestant break down in tears is a heart wrenching moment for the viewers.
Masterchef Junior
This is almost guaranteed in any Masterchef Junior elimination, seeing such talented elementary and middle school kids getting sent home is truly heartbreaking to watch. Given their age, many kid-testants leave in tears, and it's clearly heartwrenching for some of the judges (especiallyGordon Ramsay) to watch. The children also become noticeably closer throughout each season, and will often swarm a weeping, eliminated contestant with reassurances.
Special mention goes to season 6, episode 12. Sisters Olivia and Remy entered the competition together and both made it to the third-to-last episode (the Pop Up Restaurant), where Olivia got eliminated and sent home after a gruelling macaroon baking Pressure Test while Remy was advanced to the Top 5 semifinals. Both girls and the other semifinalists sobbed, even the judges were choking up about splitting them up. Remy was arguably more heartbroken to see Olivia go than Olivia was to leave.
Ben Watkins lost his parents in a murder-suicide when he was 10. Despite this, he was strong enough to go on Jr. in 2018, finishing in the top 18. And then, he was later diagnosed with a rare cancer and died in 2020, at just 14. Gordon’s tweet says it all.
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