Gaurav Khanna Accused Of Copying US-Based Chef's Honey-Dripping Dessert On Celebrity MasterChef, Netizens Say 'It's So Embarrassing' (VIDEO)
Actor Gaurav Khanna, who is currently impressing fans with his culinary skills on Celebrity MasterChef India, has found himself at the centre of a plagiarism row after being accused of copying a dessert created by a Switzerland-based chef.
A recently released promo from the show, which has since gone viral on social media, features Gaurav presenting a visually stunning honey-dripping dessert. Judges Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar were visibly amazed by the presentation, showering Gaurav with praise for his creativity and artistry. However, the dessert’s originality has now come under scrutiny.
Social media users were quick to point out that the dessert closely resembles a creation by Swiss chef Dives Josh, which he had previously posted on his Instagram.
The chef himself seemed to subtly call out the show and Gaurav for the apparent duplication. Sharing the promo clip on his Instagram story, he wrote, “Well done, so creative…” with a teasing emoji, and in another story, he labelled his own version as “the original.”
The incident has sparked a debate online, with one disappointed user writing, “@dives_josh your dessert copied, I'm at loss of words and extremely ashamed as an Indian.”
Another comment read, “He has copied this dish. It's not his own idea. At least Tejasswi represents her own idea. But judges, makers are biased. Their mouth aches to give actual appreciation to Tejasswi.”
Meanwhile, Gaurav's fans rushed to his defense, saying that he is not a professional chef. “The fact that he managed to replicate such a complex dessert is impressive. He deserves appreciation for pulling it off,” wrote one user.
Adding another layer to the controversy, US-based chef Aaron Clouse also claimed that the dessert idea was originally his. Commenting under the promo video on Instagram, he wrote, “Love that my dessert has made its way around the world. The real original. Credit should be given to those that came up with the concept.”
In a longer comment, he added, “It’s different when we are talking about a staple ingredient common across multiple meals. Plated desserts are artistic expressions that are often one of a kind. MasterChef Turkey stole the dessert last year. This is the second time that this exact dessert was replicated and claimed to be their own. We are not talking about naan. We are not talking about a specific spice or flavor. We are talking about a direct copy of a dessert without giving credit where credit is due. Let’s acknowledge the hard work. Which is why I am commenting in the first place.”
MasterChef India judges left spellbound
Meanwhile, in the promo, Ranveer, captivated by the dessert’s visuals, is heard saying, “Yeh dessert zinda hai, drop by drop,” admitting he was left speechless. Vikas Khanna echoed the sentiment and said, “There are times when I feel like I’ve seen everything and it’s just a repeat. But this… this is something new. Yeh nahi expect kiya tha.”
Ranveer, visibly impressed, added with a smile, “Ek hi dil hai dost, kitni baar jeetoge?”
Vikas was so moved by the dish’s appearance that he dropped his spoon in admiration before even tasting it, while Ranveer gave the dessert a spoon tap as a gesture of appreciation. Gaurav's co-contestant Rajiv Adatia, overwhelmed by the moment, humourously exclaimed, “Main toh jaa raha hoon,” and walked away from the cameras.
Host Farah Khan noted in the promo that it was the first time the judges had reacted so strongly even before tasting a dish, saying, “It has happened for the first time when the chefs have given spoon tap and spoon drop even before tasting a dish.”
Gaurav has not reacted to the controversy yet.
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