Cancer

‘MasterChef Junior' Alum Ben Watkins Dead at 14 After Cancer Battle

After battling a rare illness, Ben Watkins passed away on Monday, Nov. 16 at the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Contestant Ben Watkins in the Junior Edition of Master Chef.
FOX Image Collection via Getty Images

The world has lost a rising star.

Ben Watkins, who competed on "MasterChef Junior" and instantly became a fan favorite, has passed away at the age of 14. The teen died on Monday, Nov. 16 after a battle with cancer at the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Watkins was surrounded by his loved ones and his massive Marvel Comics collection, the publication reported.

"Ben, you know that your life has the beginnings of a real-life Marvel Comics character," his uncle and legal guardian, Anthony Edwards, said per The Chicago Tribune.

"We were praying for a different outcome," Edwards said. "But Ben's lungs could no longer give him the air he needed to breathe. It's been devastating."

Per the GoFundMe page, which had been set up in Watkins' honor earlier this year, he was "diagnosed with a rare illness called Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma, a soft tissue tumor usually in children and young adults."

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He learned of his diagnosis shortly after his 13th birthday, and it was discovered that he was one of only six people in the world to have the illness. Just a few months ago, Watkins' uncle and grandmother set up a GoFundMe to give an update on his health.

"Despite all of Ben's trials and tribulations, he remains positive and looks forward to getting back in the kitchen and pursuing his dream to become an engineer," a message read on the page in July. "Members of the community have joined together to see that the life challenges that Ben has gone through [do] not derail him from reaching his full potential and fulfilling his dreams."

Before starring on "MasterChef Junior," Watkins helped run Big Ben's Bodacious BBQ and Delicatessen in Gary, Indiana, with his late parents, who died three years ago in a murder-suicide.

The teen competed on season six of "MasterChef Junior," which was hosted by Gordon Ramsay. At the time of the competition, Watkins was 11 years old. While he didn't finish out the full season, he placed in the top 18 and quickly melted viewers' hearts.

Gordon took to Twitter to express his heartache over Watkins' loss, writing, "We lost a Master of the @MasterChefJrFOX kitchen today."

"Ben you were an incredibly talented home cook and even stronger young man," his message continued. "Your young life had so many tough turns but you always persevered. Sending all the love to Ben Watkins' family with this terrible loss."

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