The Great British Bake Off has been been ‘hit with 15 Ofcom complaints’ after some viewers found this week’s theme ‘racist’.
On Tuesday’s show the contestants were tasked with creating treats for ‘Japanese week’, with one amateur baker styling her goods to look like Pandas – leaving fans of the Channel 4 show offended.
An Ofcom spokesperson has now reportedly told The Sun that they received 15 complaints about the episode – with five being about the ‘racist’ theme.
Complaints: The Great British Bake Off has been reportedly been ‘hit with 15 Ofcom complaints’ after some viewers found this week’s Japanese theme ‘racist’
MailOnline has contacted Ofcom and Channel 4 for a comment.
The show was also hit by 18 Ofcom complaints earlier in October when judge Paul Hollywood said rainbow-coloured bagels represented the NHS and failed to mention the significance of the rainbow flag in the LGBTQ+ community.
During Tuesday’s show, the bakers tried their hand at creating bao buns and Kawaii cakes however some viewers pointed out not all the recipes were Japanese.
For their first challenge, contestants were tasked with creating Japanese steamed buns, but rather than opting for traditional Hirata buns, the bakers chose to go for Chinese, Indian and American-style fillings.
Really? Hermine styled her ‘chicken nikuman’ buns into Pandas, which originate from China, for this week’s challenge
Japanese Hirata buns, otherwise known as ‘bao’ in China, usually contain pork chashu, tempura, karaage, or other fillings.
Viewers were bemused when some contestants opted for Chinese style fillings, while others went for Indian and American takes on the classic Japanese dish.
Hermine even styled her ‘chicken nikuman’ buns into Pandas, which originate from central China.
Nikuman is the Japanese name for the Chinese baozi. It is a kind of chūka man, also known in English as pork buns.
Burger buns? Japanese Hirata buns, otherwise known as ‘bao’ in China, usually contain pork chashu, tempura, karaage, or other fillings
Dahl? Marc decided to go for an Indian take on traditional Chinese buns
Taking to Twitter, those who tuned into the show voiced their fury, with one enraged viewer tweeting: ‘I am SO offended by tonight’s #GBBO So ignorant and racist. You’d think in the age – and climate – they’d do better.
‘It not only insulted us Japanese, they’ve insulted the Chinese – and everyone’s intelligence.’
Another fan tweeted: ‘I had hopes for Japanese week but generalising all Asian food with Japan feeds the racist narrative that all Asians are the same, which is not cool in any time but especially now as East Asians are being racially abused due to Coronavirus.’
Fan reaction: Taking to Twitter, those who tuned into the show voiced their fury
‘Why is everyone cooking Chinese on Japanese week? This is so rude/racist #gbbo.’ added another.
‘It’s JAPANESE week, people. Not CHINESE Week. #GBBO,’ pointed out another fan of the show.
Someone else asserted: ‘This is an absolute trainwreck of an episode. It’s borderline racist #GBBO.’
Going into more detail, one viewer explained: This racist a** ‘Japanese week’ episode of #GBBO being: Bao (Chinese food) ‘Kawaii Cake’ (not a thing!) Matcha Mille Feuille (fair enough).’
Racist narrative: ‘Generalising all Asian food with Japan feeds the racist narrative that all Asians are the same,’ said one furious viewer
And someone else tweeted: ‘But Pandas are from China, not Japan, bit racist really #GBBO.’
The episode saw Mark Lutton become the latest person to be eliminated from after failing to impress the judges.
Despite starting off the week with confidence, Mark struggled to wow the judges with his burger-style steamed buns, while he landed in 5th place in the technical challenge.
The showstopper challenge, in which bakers were tasked with making a kawaii ‘cute’ creation, proved to be the final straw for the Northern Irish baker, 27, with his Avocado themed creation branded ‘inedible’ by judge Paul Hollywood.
Goodbye: Mark Lutton has become the latest person to be eliminated from the Great British Bake Off after failing to impress during the show’s first ever Japanese Week