Fans of the late MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo have discovered what seems to be his final Instagram comment, posted just before his death.
Victoria Police confirmed the 46-year-old was found dead in his hotel room in Melbourne at 2 am on May 1, the same day the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia 2023: Secrets and Surprises was due to air.
Out of respect for the Scotish-born chef’s family, Channel Ten has delayed the show’s premiere.
Jock had flown back to Australia from Italy without his family for promotional obligations in the lead-up to what would have been the show’s launch.
On April 30, he shared an Instagram post spruiking the cooking show.
“The time has come for @masterchefau to kick off a new season filled with Secrets & Surprises! And @jamieoliver of course,” his post read.
MasterChef‘s Jock Zonfrillo responds to a fan comment in what is believed to be his final interaction
Fans of the program have since discovered what is believed to be one of, if not the very last, comment he ever wrote.
Late on April 30, Jock responded to a comment from a fan about how their son is a big fan.
“Very exciting … (my son shouts out “Joooooock” every time you appear on the advert!!!! He is even practising his Scottish accent!!!),” a fan wrote on the post.
Jock replied by tagging the account and adding a laughing emoji.
Just hours later his tragic passing was confirmed and fans were speculating whether the emoji was his final Instagram interaction.
“So hard to believe you are gone when you commented this just a couple of hours ago,” one person wrote.
“You may have been one of the last people he responded to early this morning. Very sad news he passed away,” another said.
“His reply not even 24 hours yet! Probably this was his last reply,” a third added.
One fan then told So Dramatic! that the time on Jock’s final comment “swapped from 17 hours to 18 hours between 6:47 – 6:50 pm” on May 1, “making his response around 12:47 – 12:50 am”.
They added: “The police statement says they arrived at 2 am”.
Tributes flow for MasterChef‘s Jock Zonfrillo
Jock’s family and Ten broke the news of the TV personality’s death in the early afternoon on May 1.
“With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” his family said in a statement.
Tributes and condolences for Jock continue to flow as news of his death sends shockwaves around the world.
British chef Jamie Oliver, who is a guest judge on MasterChef this year was in “total shock” as was Gordon Ramsay.
Jock’s fellow MasterChef judges Melissa Leong and Anday Allen also shared their pain at losing their friend so soon.
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