“The Great British Baking Show” came under fire this week for airing a Mexican-themed episode that some viewers have deemed “offensive.”
The popular reality competition show is a big hit with the U.S. audience, however some easily triggered viewers couldn’t stand the jokes show hosts made for this themed installment.
During “Mexican Week,” contestants were instructed to make traditional Mexican dishes including pan dulce, steak tacos, and a tres leches cake, per People. The trouble began when hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas opened the show wearing sombreros and serapes.
“I don’t feel like we should make Mexico jokes. People will get upset,” Fielding said.
Lucas replied, “What? No Mexico jokes at all? Not even Juan?”
“Not even Juan,” Fielding says with a smile.
The juan and only Matt & Noel welcome you to Mexico Week! 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽 #GBBO pic.twitter.com/A4aX43H5rd
— British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 4, 2022
During another part of the episode, Fielding jokingly asked, “So, is Mexico a real place?” which prompted Lucas to reply, “I think so. I think it’s like Xanadu.”
Fans were also upset that contestants kept mispronouncing words like “guacamole.”
Plenty of “GBBS” viewers voiced their displeasure on social media.
“Just watched the Mexican Week episode of Great British Baking Show, and god it was unbearable,” one person tweeted. “Offensive on a lot of levels.”
“i literally have no words regarding the great british baking shows ‘mexican week’. the whole entire thing is just offensive and disgusting,” another person agreed. “idk how that was even allowed to air, it’s just beyond appalling and they should all be ashamed of themselves. none of it was funny”
“I’m hate watching the Mexican week episode of the Great British Baking Show, and it’s been a disaster and ridiculously offensive from about 2 seconds in. Stereotypes, mispronounced words, lack of cultural understanding, and more,” another said.
SFGATE food editor Steph Rodriguez claims the “Mexican Week” episode was “laced with plenty of problematic stereotypes” and “showed the world what it really thinks of Mexico.”
Rodriguez accuses contestants of failing to properly research Mexican dishes and pronunciations and derides them for attempts at reproducing a Mexican accent. She was also upset with the contestants for their interpretations of traditional tres leches cake.
“In the end, the entire ‘Mexican Week’ episode was a throwaway. Full stop. It was also a missed opportunity, draped in offensive garb,” Rodriguez concluded in her review.
“The Great British Baking Show” is a popular reality show pitting amateur bakers from all walks of life against each other. It’s currently available on Netflix.