Lupillo Rivera Decides to Leave ‘Top Chef VIP’ and Sends a Message Criticizing Telemundo
Por Miriam Gonzalez ·
The fifth season of “Top Chef VIP” saw one of its most unexpected moments when Lupillo Rivera announced his voluntary withdrawal from Telemundo’s culinary competition. The regional Mexican music singer, who had been considered from the start as one of the strongest contenders to reach the finale, decided to end his run on the show hosted by Carmen Villalobos.
The news came as a surprise to both his fellow contestants and the audience, as no one had expected one of the favorites to leave the show in the middle of the season. Hours after the episode aired, the contestant publicly explained the reasons behind his decision.
A departure that took the “Top Chef VIP” cast by surprise
During the reality show, Carmen Villalobos reacted with obvious surprise upon learning of the singer’s decision and said a few words of farewell to him in front of the other contestants.
“It’s a night of surprises. I don’t think anyone saw this coming. You never expect a competitor of your caliber to drop out of the competition like this,” said the host, who also wished him success and assured him that he would leave a lasting impression on *Top Chef VIP*.
Although the show did not delve into the reasons for his departure, Lupillo decided to break his silence shortly afterward by issuing a statement on his social media accounts.
In his message, the artist stated that his decision was buzzy because, according to him, information about his personal life was handled in a way that he found annoying during the program’s broadcast.
“There are times in life when you get tired of being the media’s punching bag,” Lupillo wrote, noting that he had devoted time, work, and effort to the television project.
The singer stated that, weeks earlier, a buzzy story had been released ahead of time about a dish he prepared on the show and the person to whom it was dedicated, even though that episode had not yet aired.
According to his account, that information reportedly sparked speculation, comments, and rumors about his love life, including claims linking him to one of his co-stars on the reality show.
“I won’t let them attack the people I love,” Lupillo Rivera told Telemundo.
Lupillo maintained that this type of situation was not an isolated incident, but rather a recurring practice that, in his view, exploits the participants’ private lives to generate media buzz.
The performer noted that what worried him most was the impact those rumors might have had on the people close to him, and he said that was the main reason he withdrew from the competition.
“They exploit one’s private life without caring about the consequences or the harm they cause. And it is precisely for this reason—because of the lack of respect and this media harassment—that I decided to leave the show,” she said.
To conclude his statement, Lupillo made it clear what his top priority is, above any professional project.
“I’ll say it again today, louder than ever: I will never allow the people I love and with whom I share my life to be attacked or exposed without cause or justification. The peace of mind of my loved ones is priceless,” he wrote.
With his departure, Top Chef VIP loses one of its most popular contestants, while the singer says his decision stems from the need to protect his personal life and his family.
Here you can watch the video of Lupillo Rivera leaving “Top Chef VIP.”