Chopped Junior winner and former Top Chef Junior competitor Fuller Goldsmith has tragically died aged 17.
The aspiring chef passed away following a long battle with cancer, production company Magical Elves confirmed in an Instagram post on Wednesday, October 6.
"We are devastated after hearing about the loss of our Top Chef Junior alum, Fuller Goldsmith," the company, which produces the cooking competition series, said, per Daily Mail.
"He was an incredible chef and the strongest kid we've ever met."
"From the minute he was introduced to us, we knew he would make an impact on everyone around him and be a positive force in cooking world. To his family, we give all our love as they mourn the loss of someone truly special." the post concluded.
Top Chef Junior host Vanessa Lachey commented on the post, writing: "We all Loved Fuller so much! And will never forget his contagious smile, laugh and butter tricks," Lachey wrote.
"Sending so much Love to his family. We will never forget you Fuller!"
Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama, where Fuller lived, wrote on Twitter: "So saddened to learn of the passing of Fuller Goldsmith, of Tuscaloosa. Fuller won Food Network’s 'Chopped Junior' in 2017.
"He was an inspiration to all who knew him. Prayers for his family and friends."
Meanwhile, celebrity chef Guy Fieri and Cal Holt, father of Justin Holt, who runs Southern Ale House in Tuscaloosa, where Goldsmith is from, also wrote: "Our collective hearts are broken. The SAH family lost our much loved and respected Fuller Goldsmith today.
"He spent a lot of time in the [Southern Ale House] kitchen helping prep, serve, and create recipes. We will miss his presence, his smile, his laugh, his banter back and forth with Brett, and his grit as fought the aches and pains of a terrible disease. He will be missed but forever remembered."
In February, Goldsmith shared that the leukemia had returned for the fifth time.
"Unfortunately the news regarding the tumor was not what I was hoping. The same Leukemia is back," he shared on Instagram, adding that he would be starting proton radiation within weeks.
"I will have 12 days of radiation and then more chemo to make sure it's gone once and for all. Round 5- I'm ready to fight!"
Fuller won Chopped Junior after making a beer-battered catfish with okra.
He donated his $10,000 prize to the Division of Haematology and Paediatric Oncology at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Goldsmith was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when he was just 3 years old. In late 2018, the cancer returned for the fourth time.
He entered remission and returned home to Alabama in the summer of 2020.
The young chef had dreams of attending culinary school and opening restaurants of his own.
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