The Tragic Death Of Masterchef Junior Star Ben Watkins

MasterChef Junior, a fun spin-off of MasterChef, first debuted in the U.S. in 2013, offering young, aspiring chefs the chance to showcase their skills on national TV. It can be a humbling experience, watching a 13-year-old dominate the kitchen, and while the show offers this awe-inspiring talent, it has also introduced viewers to some remarkable young humans, most notably Ben Watkins. Ben joined MasterChef Junior in Season 6 in 2018, and he was only 11 years old when he became a fan-favorite. Shortly after he turned 13, Ben was diagnosed with angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma, a rare soft tissue tumor. In fact, the illness is so rare that Ben was only one of six people in the world to be diagnosed with it, as TMZ reported. Ben passed away on November 16th, 2020 at age 14 while staying at the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Ben is greatly missed by his family and the community that cheered him on during his time on MasterChef Junior. Here's everything to know about this remarkable young man. Ben Watkins learned to cook at his father's restaurant, Big Ben's Bodacious Barbecue & Deli, and he aspired to one day open a restaurant of his own. Ben's father, Michael Watkins, named the restaurant after his son. Ben's father, and his mother Leila Edwards, moved to Gary, Indiana, in 2001 after leaving Chicago to get away from potential dangers in a big city. Ben worked for his father at his restaurant, running the register, taking orders, and even selling his own baking. On September 16th, 2017, when Ben was just 11, his father killed his mother and then killed himself. Police ruled the incident a murder-suicide, per the Tribune. Afterward, Ben was raised by his maternal grandmother and uncle, Donna Edwards and Anthony Edwards. It was following this tragedy that Ben joined MasterChef Junior and audiences were even more amazed by Ben's kindness and ability after learning about his traumatic loss. Even after his death, it was Ben's kindness that people remembered most. Ben Watkins appeared on MasterChef Junior at age 11. During the premiere episode, he came out victorious with a white apron after wowing the judges with his peach cobbler, served with whipped cream and caramel sauce. Ben made it to the top 18 of the show before being sent home, but he made a mark on audiences. On GoFundMe, a page was set up for Ben called #Love4Ben Memorial Fund, which has a statement from his maternal grandmother, Donna Edwards, and uncle, Anthony Edwards. The family also shared that Ben was, quote, "so heartened" by the outpouring of love he received after news broke of his cancer diagnosis. Ben was clearly loved by so many people, but celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was especially vocal about his grief after Ben's passing. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who was the host of MasterChef Junior, shared his grief on Instagram after news broke that Ben Watkins had passed away. The entire MasterChef Junior community had previously made a video for Ben, released on August 18th, 2020, offering support as Ben fought cancer, and the group consensus was obvious and clear: everyone loved Ben. #MasterChefJunior