Petitions calling for Meghan Markle to be stripped of her newly announced role as co-host of Junior MasterChef Australia have gathered thousands of signatures as calls continue to grow for the offer to be rescinded.

At least two petitions are currently on Change.org. While one is currently unavailable to sign, pending a review, the damage to Meghan Markle’s reputation – and her ego – has no doubt already been done.

Multiple media outlets, including The Royal Observer and The Washington Times, reported one of the petitions had garnered 3500 signatures, following Tuesday’s announcement Meghan would co-host the rebooted show.

That petition, entitled “Remove Meghan Markle from Junior MasterChef Australia”, is currently under review “by moderators” who enforce the platform’s community guidelines. While it is not accessible “at the moment”, a message on the platform says “the petition may become available again once the review process is complete”.

Its organisers said there were two reasons for the petition. The first involved opposition to flying in the Duchess when there was plenty of homegrown talent right here in Australia.

The second regards the ongoing fallout surrounding Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle Snr, and his alleged links to child abuse material, with many pointing out the odd timing involved in announcing her involvement in a TV show, of which almost the entire cast will be children, within days of news breaking about the allegations.

Then there was Meghan’s own statement in which she said she had been aware of “troubling and disturbing allegations” against her father since 2018.

A second petition, entitled “Junior MasterChef AU Protecting Children: Concerns Over Meghan Markle’s Involvement”, had 1128 signatures as at lunchtime Friday. 

This petition stated a concern for young contestants who may get caught up in a Meghan media storm.

“Our primary concern is the welfare, privacy and protection of the children participating in Junior MasterChef Australia,” the petition read.

“These children are entering Junior MasterChef Australia to showcase their culinary talents, creativity and passion for cooking. They are not entering a competition to become associated with the intense international media attention surrounding Meghan Markle and her family.”

The petition urged show bosses to “put the children first” and “keep Junior MasterChef about the children” by protecting their privacy. 

Meghan’s involvement in the new season of Junior MasterChef Australia was announced on Tuesday, with the Duchess saying she “can’t wait” to film the series, reportedly sometime early to mid next year.

“I love cooking with my own kids, so seeing what these young stars create in the kitchen is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see what they cook up,” she said.

However, the reaction from the public, and even some politicians, has been less warm, especially when it comes to who might foot the bill for Meghan’s security while she is in Australia to film the series.

A spokesman for Victoria’s state Labor government said it would not fit the bill for security, with the state’s Opposition Leader making the same pledge, should the Coalition win the state election in November.

There was similar opposition earlier this year ahead of Harry and Meghan’s tour of Australia, with a petition garnering 47,000 signatures from people opposed to taxpayers footing the bill for what was a private tour.

Meghan and Harry were last in Melbourne and Sydney in April for a series of engagements that drew the ire of the royal family for its similarities to a royal tour, complete with public appearances and meet-and-greets.

While in Melbourne, Meghan secretly filmed a guest judge appearance on MasterChef Australia, which aired in July and drew an audience of 1.6 million people.

It now appears it was an audition of sorts for Junior MasterChef Australia.

Meghan certainly has more detractors than fans, with the vast majority of comments on social media opposed to her winning the latest role.

A counter-petition on Change.org, entitled “Remove the vile, ugly petition requesting Meghan Markle be removed from Jnr MasterChef AU” had just 89 signatures as at lunchtime Friday.