A joke made on the YouTube program Soğuk Savaş, which referenced the physical disability of MasterChef Türkiye judge Mehmet Yalçınkaya, has drawn backlash on social media.
During the program, a question was posed referencing a previous episode where Yalçınkaya had scolded Orkun Işıtmak: "What did Orkun Işıtmak say to Chef Mehmet after going to his restaurant and eating there, in an attempt to take revenge on him?" The answer to the question was given as, "Chef, you have ten talents in your ten fingers."
Following the joke, numerous users on social media platforms, particularly X, criticized the use of a physical disability as a subject of humor. Reminding viewers that Yalçınkaya lost three fingers in an accident as a child, users argued that the statement was disrespectful.
Among the reactions, comments such as "Making fun of someone's disability is not humor, it is outright disrespect" and "This is pure disrespect" stood out.
Following the controversy, Mehmet Yalçınkaya's past statements regarding his accident and professional life also resurfaced. Yalçınkaya had previously stated that the accident occurred while he was playing with friends in front of a door as a child, adding, "In my story, which I started as an apprentice at the age of 11, no one believed I would become a chef. This always gave me ambition and a reason to hold on. I worked harder than everyone else."
News Source: 12punto
