MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo's wife addresses his cause of death in 7NEWS Spotlight interview
The wife of celebrity chef and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has opened up about his shock death, publicly answering questions about his cause of death for the first time.
Zonfrillo, 46, was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room in May 2023.
His sudden death shocked his fans and his family, with his wife Lauren Zonfrillo and their two children on the other side of the world in Italy when the discovery was made.
Zonfrillo's cause of death has never been disclosed.
It was revealed earlier this year that a coroner's investigation had been completed in August 2024 but that it was decided the findings would not be made public.
In Victoria not all coronial findings are required to be published, and a coroner may determine that non-publication is in the public interest.
Sources close to the family had previously said the popular chef had died of natural causes.
Speaking to Liz Hayes in a 7NEWS Spotlight special on Sunday night, Lauren said she'd chosen to keep her husband's cause of death private following discussions with the coroner.
Lauren said she wanted to give Jock, who had been further thrust into the public eye after joining the MasterChef Australia judging team in 2020, some semblance of privacy.
'We spoke to the coroner multiple times because the inquest took a while and it was just sort of agreed that for the privacy and safety of our family, because really the kids and I were the focus ... that it wouldn't be in the public's best interest or our best interest and that was determined well before the report was finalised,' she said.
'I respect that decision. That's what I wanted and was grateful for it because the way that I've looked at the last two years is that up until Jock's death, yes, he was a public figure.
'But, since we lost Jock, I'd been trying to reclaim some of his privacy and that gives us privacy, but also to give him some peace as much as I can and to us, he's Dad, Papa, husband, and he's not a public figure to us anymore.'
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