The Great British Bake Off has been slammed by viewers accusing the show of using 'racist stereotypes' in Mexican week after the presenters appeared with ponchos, sombreros and maracas.
The last episode of Bake Off saw presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas don sombreros and sarapes (shawls) while making puns and playing the maracas.
The duo joked about not being able to make 'Juan' joke about Mexico on the Channel 4 programme.
Noel said: "I don't feel like we should make Mexican jokes, because people will get upset," to which Matt asked: "Not even Juan?"
Viewers and academics have criticised the show for the 'tacky jokes about Mexican stereotypes' as well as the 'misidentification of Mexican food'.
Professor Ignacio M. Sánchez Prado, a professor of Mexican cultural studies at Washington University, said: "The fundamental issue is that the episode and its campaign follow a script on Mexican culture that us Mexicans, from either side of the US-Mexico border, see very frequently.
"The use of cartoonish sarapes and sombreros as props and disguises, the misidentification of Mexican food with the stuff sold in Taco Bell, the borrowing of beloved dishes like tres leches to make versions that have little recognisability to Mexicans, this is something that we see every Cinco de Mayo and every Hispanic Heritage Month."
While Dr Gabriela Ramos, associate Professor of Latin American History at Cambridge, explained that she didn't want to make a scandal out of the show, but it showed a 'problem of education'.
The professor added that it signified 'a lack of interest and poor information in this country about other parts and people of the world'.
Fans even took to Twitter to call out the programme, with one saying: "You could have honoured an amazing culture instead of stupid racist jokes and tropes."
"I love Bake Off, but Mexican week was a mistake," another posted. "Tacky jokes about Mexican stereotypes and no attempt to properly pronounce the language (from Noel/Matt). Hopefully it's a one-off."
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One user pointed out: "Honestly the most British thing the Great British Bake Off has done is butcher things from other cultures for their own enjoyment."
Mirror have contacted Channel 4 and Noel and Matt's reps for comment.
The episode had contestants attempting to cook Mexican staples, such as tacos, pan dulce and a tres leches cake.
One part had Prue say the cakes 'look Mexican' as they had 'lots of bright colours'.
Noel mispronounced 'besos' as 'Bezos' while one contestant called guacamole 'glocky-molo'.
James and Rebs were the contestants to leave The Great British Bake Off in a brutal double elimination.
*Bake Off returns next Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4*
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