Big news from the kitchen of ‘Top Chef VIP’: Juan Soler has stepped away from the competition. While the episode hasn’t aired yet on Telemundo, the Argentine actor confirmed his exit. It wasn’t a heart issue, as some might have guessed. Soler described his reason simply: “extreme fatigue,” or what experts call “burnout.”
Soler, 59, cleared the air during a video call on the ‘Sale el Sol’ show from Imagen Entretenimiento. He explained that his condition was diagnosed as “burnout,” a severe exhaustion stemming from poor self-care. The actor shared the grueling pace he kept up: constant filming, plus hiring outside chefs for lessons on weekends. “There were no breaks, nothing at all,” he stated.
This intense schedule led to a scary health scare for Soler. He revealed he ended up in the hospital with extreme dehydration. Doctors found a minor issue with his kidneys. Thankfully, everything was taken care of. He said his doctor praised his choice to leave and focus on recovery, noting things “could have gotten worse.” He made sure to stress it was not related to heart problems or pre-heart attacks.
Stepping away from such a big show is a tough call, especially with a $200,000 prize for the winner. Soler admitted he had a strong chance to make it to the finale, maybe even win. But he asked a critical question: “What good is that money if you need it to pay doctors?” For him, health comes first. “Nothing justifies sacrificing your health,” he added. He simply wasn’t willing to take any risks. Soler officially resigned, prioritizing his well-being above all else.
Fans watching the latest ‘Top Chef VIP’ episode saw Paco Pizaña, Valeria Cuevas, and Yany Prado return to the kitchen. Soler was still in the mix then. However, reports suggest his departure will happen when the competition narrows down to the final five. Before these comebacks, seven celebrities were still cooking. Now, with the re-entries, the roster is back up to ten. We’ve seen several chefs pack their knives so far this season. Here’s who has left the show, listed in the order they departed:
- Sergio Goyri
- Christopher Vélez
- Karina
- Elvis Crespo (left the show)
- Sergio Sendel
- Valeria Cuevas (returned)
- Jerry Bazúa
- Hector Sandarti
- Yany Prado (left and returned)
- Norkys Batista
- Nicole Curiel
- Celinee Santos
- Paco Pizaña (returned)
Want to catch all the ‘Top Chef VIP 4’ action? You can tune in Sunday through Friday. The show airs at 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT on Telemundo. If you prefer streaming, it’s also live on both Telemundo’s app and Peacock.