MasterChef: Melissa Leong drags flight attendant Ben after he argues over criticism of his meal  

Melissa Leong went toe-to-toe with a contestant on Monday’s premiere of MasterChef Australia.

Flight attendant Ben, 36, bickered with the judge, 39, when she told him, ‘you brought us a dish you thought we wanted to see’ instead of playing to his culinary strengths.

But the aspiring chef shocked the judges – and viewers – when he told Leong, ‘I disagree.’ 

It’s on! Melissa Leong [L] went toe-to-toe with contestant Ben [R] on Monday’s premiere of MasterChef Australia

‘I think I brought a dish that speaks about a side of me that I’m just kind of meeting now,’ said Ben as Melissa’s fellow judges Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen looked on in shock.  

‘I could have easily cooked something that I’ve been cooking for years, you know, a slow braised dish or anything like that, but that’s…’ he continued, before Leong cut in. 

‘I would invite you to… to listen to us and to hear… To take that on,’ said the food critic.  

Gasp: But the aspiring chef shocked the judges – and viewers – when he told Leong, ‘I disagree.’

‘I would like you to cook again,’ concluded Leong, sharply. 

And Twitter erupted, with one fan exclaiming, ‘MEL IS NOT HAVING IT’.

‘First mistake, disagreeing with the judges,’ wrote another.

Not mincing words: ‘I would invite you to… to listen to us and to hear… To take that on,’ said the food critic

‘Who argues with the judges handing out the prize? Tuck your massive ego back in and listen to the feedback dude,’ snapped a third commenter.

‘My sexuality is Melissa Leong interrupting a man,’ added an admirer of the television personality. 

MasterChef continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 

Fans: ‘My sexuality is Melissa Leong interrupting a man,’ added an admirer of the television personality