The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood has weighed in on the show's Mexican-themed faux pas aired earlier this year.
In October, the baking contest came under fire following an episode on Mexican cuisine, which some perceived as culturally inappropriate.
Critics pointed out that the TV series relied on a clichéd portrayal of Mexican culture, with hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas wearing sombreros and shaking maracas, as well as mispronouncing Spanish words.
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In a new interview, Hollywood explained the challenges were based on his recent trip to the country and reiterated no one at Bake Off intended to be offensive.
"I'd literally come back from Mexico about three weeks before we filmed the episode," he told Eater.
"I spent a month over there with Mexican chefs, working with tacos and enjoying the food in Tijuana and Mexico City and Oaxaca and Cancun. I was all over the place, and we set the challenges based on what I'd seen there.
"The challenges were very good, and everyone did a good job. There's not a bad bone in any of the bodies of anyone connected with Bake Off that would want to upset Mexico. And certainly not me, because I love the country."
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Mexican Week isn't the first instance where Bake Off has been accused of being culturally insensitive and appropriative.
In 2020, the series aired a Japanese-themed episode which stirred a similar controversy for seemingly collating all Asian cultures into one.
The Great British Bake Off airs on Channel 4 in the UK. In the US, it's known as The Great British Baking Show, and streams on Netflix. Bake Off: An Extra Slice, hosted by Tom Allen and Jo Brand, airs on Fridays at 8pm on Channel 4.
