Viewers of Wheel of Fortune were stunned by a controversial moment when a contestant’s answer, widely perceived as correct, was not accepted by the show’s judges.
Megan, a married high school choir director from California, became the focal point of a heated debate during a tense bonus puzzle round on Wheel of Fortune. Her task was to solve a two-word puzzle in the category of “Living Thing”.
As the wheel spun and Megan anxiously awaited her turn, host Pat Sajak grabbed the prize estimate card and directed her to the puzzle board. There, the enigmatic phrase was revealed: “_ N R _ _ _.”
After correctly guessing a few of the letters, Megan was left with a board displaying: “P_N_ RC _ D”
With only 10 seconds remaining on the timer, Megan made her final guess, which many viewers believed sounded like “Pink Orchid.”
Certainly! Picture their astonishment when the accurate letters materialized on the board, exposing “Pink Orchid” as the solution… only for host Pat Sajak to disclose that she had not clinched the $40,000 prize.
Iโm sorry, did she NOT say Pink Orchid the first time? Or am I tripping #wheeloffortune pic.twitter.com/b30E4l0MqE
— Taylor (@TaylorStriegel) January 31, 2024
In a tone filled with frustration, Megan reiterated the correct answer aloud, clearly exasperated by the timing.
Sajak, with a hint of realization, replied, “You might have been overthinking a particular type of orchid. Iโm sorry that it didnโt work out for you.”
It was subsequently disclosed that Megan’s answer had been deemed incorrect, leading to her winning a significantly lower amount of $14,007 instead of the initially estimated $40,000.
Enraged fans flooded social media to express their discontent, with one viewer declaring: “The woman was unfairly treated on #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight; she clearly said ‘Pink Orchid’ right from the beginning.”
The woman got screwed on #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight, she totally said โPINK ORCHIDโ right at the start,
— Timmy E. (@TimmyMKE) January 31, 2024
I am FUMING!! She got it she said pink orchid! Wtf?! #WheelOfFortune
— Deedee โจ๐จ๐ฆ (@Deedee21991333) January 31, 2024
Another supporter of Megan joined the chorus, stating: “I doubted the judges from the moment she spoke!! I’m deaf in one ear, and half remaining on the right, so I rely on captions and lip-reading. She definitely said ‘Pink Orchid’!! No doubt about it!!”
“I am absolutely FUMING!! She clearly got it right, she said ‘pink orchid’! What on earth?!” exclaimed a third viewer in frustration.
Some viewers directly addressed the show, with one commenting: “Hey @WheelofFortune, I heard the contestant say ‘pink orchid’ at the beginning of that final puzzle and rewound it to make sure. You owe her some $$$.”
Another outraged fan demanded action, saying: “Okay @WheelofFortune, if you replay tonight’s episode for the final puzzle, the one that just aired, you will clearly hear that she said ‘pink orchid.’ You did not properly credit the winner. Replay it. Seriously, she said exactly that! Pink Orchid!”
Okay @WheelofFortune if you play tonightโs episode again for the final puzzle, the one that just aired, you will hear clearly that she said โpink orchidโ. You did not properly credit the winner. Go and play it back. Seriously she said exactly that! Pink Orchid!
— ๐๐๐ญ๐ (@PaganWitch87) January 31, 2024
However, upon reviewing the clip, it appears that Megan faintly says something resembling “Something Orchid” – which would explain why she doesn’t seem too surprised to be missing out on the top prize.
Certainly, this isn’t the initial instance where the show has encountered controversy.
In the previous year, a trip to Croatia and an astonishing $1 million were up for grabs, with only three letters standing between contestant Micki and the coveted prize.
The woman from Louisiana had the live studio audience on the edge of their seats as longtime host Pat Sajak instructed her to select another letter.
Under the category “Thing,” a clue on the board displayed: “A ROARING FIRE IN THE FIRE _ _ A _ E,” with the unsolved word evidently being “FIREPLACE.”
However, fans were left astonished when Micki requested the 76-year-old host to place an “S” on the board, triggering the incorrect-answer buzzer. “You got the reaction. No ‘S,’ Iโm sorry,” Sajak remarked, acknowledging the crowd’s disappointment.
Perhaps this game proves to be significantly more challenging under the bright studio lights?
