Controversy is continuing to explode around America’s Culinary Cup after the shocking elimination of Buddha Lo just one episode before the finale.

What was initially seen as a dramatic semifinal upset has now evolved into a much larger debate online, with many viewers accusing the show of intentionally eliminating one of its strongest contestants in order to create buzz, media attention, and viral discussion ahead of the finale.

Buddha, who entered the competition as one of the clear favorites to win the season, was eliminated after losing the semifinal cook-off against Chris Morgan. The result stunned fans, especially after Buddha had consistently delivered strong performances throughout the season and was widely viewed as the chef to beat.

The controversy became even bigger because of the semifinal twist that gave Chris an extra 30 minutes of cooking time — an advantage he obtained by taking time away from other contestants. Chris ultimately chose to remove 15 minutes each from Buddha and Matt Peters, a decision that immediately divided viewers.

While Chris later claimed the choice was “completely personal” and not strategic, many fans were unconvinced. Some argued that taking time away from Buddha directly affected the outcome of the challenge and may have prevented one of the season’s most dominant chefs from reaching the finale.

Now, a new wave of speculation has emerged after alleged behind-the-scenes details from the semifinal reportedly surfaced online.

According to discussions spreading across social media and fan communities, viewers believe there were “unusual circumstances” surrounding the judging process and elimination decision. While no official evidence has been confirmed, the rumors have fueled accusations that production may have favored a shocking television moment over purely judging the food itself.

Many fans pointed to the fact that Buddha’s elimination instantly became one of the most talked-about moments of the season, generating massive online engagement within hours of the episode airing. Clips from the semifinal spread rapidly across TikTok, X, and Reddit, with viewers debating whether the show had sacrificed fairness for entertainment value.

Some fans even claimed the series “needed a shock elimination” to keep momentum heading into the finale.

Others questioned whether reality television production elements may have played a larger role than viewers originally believed.

“There’s no way the biggest contender suddenly goes home right before the finale unless producers wanted maximum drama,” one fan wrote online.

Another viewer commented:

“It feels less like a cooking competition and more like a reality TV twist now.”

The debate intensified further after Buddha himself admitted in post-show interviews that the loss came down to extremely small margins between the dishes. Fans quickly analyzed his comments and argued that if the difference was truly minimal, then external factors — including the controversial time disadvantage — may have had an even bigger impact than the judges admitted on screen.

Still, many viewers have defended the show and the judges, arguing that pressure, adaptability, and handling disadvantages are part of high-level culinary competitions. Others noted that every contestant agreed to the rules of the competition and that advantages have always been a core element of reality cooking shows.

Neither CBS nor the production team behind America’s Culinary Cup has responded to the growing speculation.

Meanwhile, the controversy has only increased interest in the finale. Ironically, the backlash surrounding Buddha’s elimination may have accomplished exactly what many fans now accuse the show of wanting in the first place: making America’s Culinary Cup the most talked-about cooking competition on television right now.