Now this is a serious case of bad timing!
A TV host was forced to apologise after making an ill-timed joke about mushrooms amid the investigation into the deaths of three people who are suspected to have eaten poisonous mushrooms.
Mara Lejins, who hosts the Aussie version of The Chase, made an awkward blunder on Monday’s episode (14 August) while joking about her cooking leaving people in hospital.
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The star clarified her comments on social media, explaining that the episode was filmed before the news broke about the three suspected mushroom poisoning deaths in Victoria.
Erin Patterson invited her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, as well as Mrs Patterson’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, and her husband, Reverend Ian Wilkinson, 68, to have lunch at her home. Ms Patterson cooked beef wellington for the group. However, tragedy struck when all four guests became ill, with Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs Patterson both passing away on 5 August. Mr Patterson died the next day.
Mr Wilkinson remains in hospital in a critical condition while he awaits a liver transplant.
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Ms Patterson and her two children did not fall ill because they are said to have eaten a different meal.
Police in Victoria have confirmed Ms Patterson has been named as a suspect believing that all four guests had consumed poisonous mushrooms, known as death caps, during the gathering. Ms Patterson denies any wrongdoing.
The proximity between the mushroom case and the joke on The Chase raised more than a few eyebrows.
As she is chatting to a contestant who said they love cooking, the Lejins quipped: “I'm also an amazing chef... and when my boyfriend gets out of hospital, he'll definitely back me up. I didn't do it!”
After her comments went viral, she took to Instagram and re-posted a news article about her joke on her Story.
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The headline of the story read: “Oops. Chaser’s untimely joke on food poisoning.”
While the subheading added: “Of all the times to drop a gag about food poisoning...”
In her caption, the host pointed out that it was entirely coincidental, as the episode she starred in had been filmed previously.
“I promise this episode was filmed before the Death Cap debacle,” she said, along with two confused emojis.
Featured Image Credit: Seven/Nine NewsTopics: TV And Film, Health, Crime, True Crime