Maria Jeleniewska and Zoja Skubis exit Azja Express, per Pudelek.pl and others

Maria Jeleniewska and Zoja Skubis exited the TVN reality show Azja Express in the sixth episode of the fifth season following a culinary challenge involving snake meat and a sharp dispute over dietary choices, according to reports by Pudelek.pl, RMF FM, and Onet.pl.

Maria Jeleniewska Hesitates over Snake Meat Challenge

The elimination occurred after a challenge where contestants were tasked with consuming a dish featuring snake meat while looking at a live animal. According to RMF FM and Onet.pl, Maria Jeleniewska, who has practiced vegetarianism for five years, hesitated over whether to break her diet to protect their standing in the race, remarking that she could eat the food and vomit it around the corner, or that she could eat it if it was a problem for her partner. Onet.pl noted that Jeleniewska also stated, I won’t swallow the meat, but it’s a pity for us to lose our place and highlighted that she was ready to make an exception if their participation in the race would otherwise suffer.

Zoja Skubis responded that she respected her partner’s boundaries and insisted that the decision to consume meat belonged entirely to Jeleniewska, stating, This is your decision, to eat meat after 5 years of being a vegetarian. Not mine. Either you can do it, or we fly further… as reported by RMF FM. Skubis also told her partner, Wait, so you don’t throw it in my face later, let me get a word in. This is your decision, to eat meat after 5 years of being a vege. Not mine. Either you can handle it, or we fly further (…) before Jeleniewska confirmed, Okay, so you realize that we are falling out to which her partner nodded, as detailed by Onet.pl. Onet.pl noted that Jeleniewska ultimately decided against eating the snake meat. The refusal resulted in the pair dropping one position in the episode’s rankings and ultimately being eliminated by host Izabella Krzan.

Remaining Pairs Compete After Previous Near-Elimination

The sixth episode continued the race with the remaining pairs competing to advance, including Mateusz Banasiuk and Aldona Banasiuk, Michał Danilczuk and Paweł Danilczuk, Edyta Herbuś and Piotr Bukowiecki, Błażej Król and Robert “DrySkull” Krawczyk, Zoja Skubis and Marysia Jeleniewska, Małgorzata Socha and Mariusz Szydeł, and Katarzyna Zillmann and Janja Lesar, as reported by RMF FM. Party.pl noted that earlier in the season, Skubis and Jeleniewska had nearly exited the show before being saved by a mysterious envelope opened by Kasia Zillmann and Janja Lesar.

Viewers Criticize Contestants on Social Media

Pudelek.pl reported that the episode triggered heavy online debate and criticism across social media profiles dedicated to Azja Express. Viewers questioned Skubis’s stance during the food challenge, contrasting her hesitations with comments about her past travel experiences, while others expressed sympathy for Jeleniewska’s difficult position. Party.pl and RMF FM detailed that online commenters criticized the ongoing tensions between the two participants, with some viewers questioning why Skubis had trouble eating snake soup given past remarks about consuming dog, cat, and guinea pig, while others defended Jeleniewska’s endurance and suggested she deserved a different partner.