Please take note that this story was first published in January 2024 and is being republished.
Enraged fans of “Wheel of Fortune” are protesting, believing that Megan, a contestant, was wrongfully denied $40,000 for a potentially correct response.
Megan, a married choir director at a high school in California, had to solve a bonus problem consisting of two words that fell under the “Living Thing” category.
The incomplete phrase “_ N’R _ _ _” was revealed when Megan was led to the puzzle board by host Pat Sajak while the wheel was spinning.
By carefully choosing which letters to use, Megan changed the board to read “P_N_’ RC _ D.”
In the final ten seconds, Megan blurted out her guess, something like “Pink Orchid” or perhaps similar to “Something Orchid.” Megan vocally expressed her annoyance at the correct response, “Pink Orchid,” as soon as the timer chimed and the correct letters illuminated the display.
Sajak, sensing she might be right, pulled out the prize estimate card and showed Megan a healthy $40,000, far more than the $14,007 she ended up received.
Watching from their living rooms, viewers were unable to accept the result and vented their frustration to Wheel of Fortune on Megan’s answer, which they felt was unfairly incorrect.
One viewer complained, “The woman got screwed on the #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight; she totally said ‘PINK ORCHID’ right at the start.”
“I inquired of the judges right away after she stated that! I lip read and use subtitles because I am deaf in one ear and partially hearing in the other. She called me “Pink Orchid.” Without a doubt!,” countered another admirer.
“I’m exploding! She understood; pink orchid, she said! “WTF?” yelled a third individual.
Good day, @WheelofFortune I rewound the final puzzle after hearing the competitor remark “pink orchid” at the beginning. One irate viewer shouted, “You owe her some $$$.”
All right, @WheelofFortune You may plainly hear her say “pink orchid” if you replay tonight’s broadcast to solve the final puzzle from the most recent airing. The winner was not given due credit by you. Play it back now. She really did say that! Vibrant Orchid.
Fans of Wheel of Fortune have been criticizing the show more and more in the midst of the scandal for what appears to be missteps, such as a recent argument over a rhyme during an Express round. On January 22, the audience exploded as the program appeared to stumble over a response in the “Rhyme Time” category.
Two of the candidates were stumped by the ongoing farce, but Jill, the third contender, solved the issue by guessing two “y’s,” creating the rhyme “Absolutely Positively.”
Supporters fiercely disagreed with the ruling, claiming that “Absolutely Positively” is not a rhyme.
One of the viewers wrote, “Hey @WheelofFortune.” “Could you please clarify how these two words rhyme? Because they most definitely do not.”