Meghan Markle's post-royal career has turned every television announcement into a spectator sport. One minute, the Duchess of Sussex is preparing to trade Netflix's lifestyle cameras for a kitchen full of aspiring chefs. The next, the internet is serving controversy with an extra helping of outrage.

Her newly announced appearance on Junior MasterChef Australia has already attracted an online petition demanding her removal. The backlash has also drawn attention to disturbing allegations involving her estranged father, creating an unfortunate collision between family headlines and children's television.

Apparently, the cooking competition has acquired its first controversy before anyone has even cracked an egg.

The Duchess's return to Australian television is already generating some serious kitchen heat. Following Network 10's October 27 announcement, a Change.org petition titled Remove Meghan Markle From Junior Masterchef Australia! called on producers to reconsider her involvement.

The campaign questions Meghan Markle's suitability for a program featuring young contestants and invokes allegations concerning her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr. However, those allegations concern Thomas, who is under investigation by Philippine authorities over claims involving child s***** a***** material. He has denied wrongdoing.

There is no evidence that Markle participated in the alleged conduct, and the petition's accusations against her remain unsubstantiated. The Duchess previously said she learned of troubling allegations years ago and believed authorities were investigating. Despite the petition, Network 10 has announced no change to Markle's involvement.

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And this is hardly the first time a potential television appearance has landed the Duchess in a casting controversy.

Before the cooking-show dispute, Meghan Markle's rumored involvement in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen generated its own entertainment-industry circus. In August, reports suggested that the former Suits actress was discussing a role in the Netflix crime drama's third season.

However, leading man Theo James quickly cooled the excitement, describing the speculation as “mainly a lot of hot air.” Page Six subsequently reported that Markle had never received a formal offer, citing sources who claimed an initial conversation with a casting director had been interpreted as something more substantial. The story then acquired another twist.

A source described as close to Markle suggested Netflix had benefited from the publicity surrounding her rumored casting, calling the situation “the oldest marketing trick in the book.” A production source disputed that suggestion, arguing that the series had no need for stunt casting.

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What do you think about the petition against Meghan Markle's upcoming television appearance? Let us know in the comments.