MasterChef’s Reynold Poernomo says ‘everyone makes mistakes’ as he reflects on resurfaced homophobic comments from 2014 after being eliminated from the show
MasterChef star Reynold Poernomo made headlines when his shocking homophobic posts from 2014 were exposed in May.
But on Monday, the 26-year-old chef said ‘everyone makes mistakes’ and he is now a ‘completely transformed and changed person’.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Reynold said: ‘It’s definitely impacted me in certain ways. I felt very heartbroken too.’
‘Everyone makes mistakes’: MasterChef’s Reynold Poernomo has reflected on his resurfaced homophobic comments from 2014 after being eliminated from the show on Monday
The ‘dessert king’ added: ‘Everyone makes mistakes in their lives and the only way is to keep learning and move forward.’
Reynold went on to say that he ‘reached out to everyone I knew’ after the comments made headlines.
‘They know who I am now, they’ve met me and know the person that I am and none of them have spoken out against me because they know what kind of person I am now,’ he said.
‘I am a completely transformed and changed person. No one can change their past except from learning from it.’
Past: The 26-year-old said ‘everyone makes mistakes’ and he is now a ‘completely transformed and changed person’
In May, it was revealed that Reynold – using the profile name ‘reyreyy’ – had posted a shocking comment in a bodybuilding.com thread from 2014 titled ‘First gay couple featured on the Disney Channel. Do you agree with them?’
The then 20-year-old wrote: ‘I wish the world made a united decision where they will capture all gay people and put them on a remote island full of gays, that way straight [people] will be happy and the freaks can go on and f**k themselves.’
That comment was followed by another on a thread titled: ‘Is homosexuality a mental illness?’
‘Yes end of thread,’ Reynold responded.
Shocking: Last month it was revealed that Reynold shared a comment in a bodybuilding.com thread from 2014 titled ‘First gay couple featured on the Disney Channel. Do you agree with them?’ He said called gay people ‘freaks’ and said they should all be put on a ‘remote island’
Reynold apologised for the comments. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, he said he was ‘deeply ashamed’ of his remarks at the time.
‘I would like to offer my sincere and deepest apologies for the comments that I made in 2014. I am ashamed of these comments and I regret them immensely,’ he said.
‘At the time these comments were made, I was a very immature, close-minded and insular 20-year-old. I have grown and matured a lot in the last six years. I am not the person I was back then.
‘I have many friends and colleagues that are part of the LGBTIQ+ community. I wholeheartedly support them and care deeply for them. I am truly sorry and apologise for any offence or hurt I caused.’
Apology: Reynold apologised for the comments. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, he said he was ‘deeply ashamed’ of his remarks
On Sunday’s episode of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, Reynold was eliminated from the cooking show.
Upon elimination, Reynold broke down completely, and was unable to speak as he wept.
Afterwards, the chef admitted: ‘I feel pretty devastated. I really believed that I could win. But even though I didn’t win I’d say it was all worth it.
‘It was all a journey. I don’t know where it’s going to take me but I know from here on, it’s nowhere but up.’
The MasterChef grand finale airs Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten
Going home: On Sunday night’s episode of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, Reynold was eliminated from the cooking show