Ben Watkins Mourned by 'MasterChef Junior' Fans After His Death
11/18/2020 12:18 am EST
As Ramsey alluded to, not only did Watkins have tough turns in his health, he also went through a tragic murder-suicide involving his parents about three years ago. His grandmother and uncle, who wrote a joint message on social media, said they "marveled" at his strength and "love for life" amid all the hard times.
His grandmother and uncle are his only surviving family. In their farewell post on Facebook, they noted that he never complained about what he was going through no matter how difficult things got.
On Masterchef Junior, Watkins put together some really impressive dishes. Among his most notable included a fruit tart that wowed the judges and in a different route, a milkshake that also impressed.
His run on the show lasted five episodes after taking on Gracie Howard on the chopping block elimination. Despite a shorter run then some, he quickly connected with the fans.
Outside of the show, Watkins continued to pursue a career as a chef. He was working at his family's Big Ben's Bodacious Barbecue, Baker and Deli in his hometown in Indiana, though the restaurant has recently closed.
There is a GoFundMe that his family has set up in the wake of his passing. The funds will go to pay for his memorial with a goal of $300,000, a mark that was already halfway met after just four hours of being published.
For viewers who didn't get to watch Masterchef Junior, Watkins' season can be found on FOX Now. His season also is available on Hulu premium.
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