After facing backlash for imitating a contestant’s lisp, Pat Sajak is facing calls for his resignation as host from Wheel of Fortune. Sajak has hosted the gameshow for 37 years and came under fire this month during an interview portion of a recent episode.
The segment went viral online, where viewers condemned his actions and asked for Sajak to express some empathy for those with different speech patterns. Recent posts, though, now call for Sajak to resign or be fired from his position as host.
Pat Sajak faces calls for him to resign
As someone with a speech impediment, I would be mortified if I was mocked on television like this. Sajak should resign or be fired. Completely unacceptable.#FirePatSajak
— Crisp Chum (@CrispChum) February 23, 2021
During a conversation with contestant Chris Brimble, Sajak imitated the contestant’s lisp by saying “I see” as “I thee.” Brimble continued on with the interview with a smile, but online, Sajak’s words ignited outrage. “Cheap shot making fun of a contestant with a lisp,” one user wrote. “I teach speech therapy. You have been on the air for far too long. It’s time for you to retire.”
RELATED: ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Host Pat Sajak Snaps At Contestant
https://twitter.com/DunningLissy/status/1364179986979172355
Other comments expressed general disappointment and hope that Sajak would do better in the future. But others agreed with the aforementioned comment and felt Pat Sajak should retire as host of Wheel of Fortune. Another user wrote, “As someone with a speech impediment, I would be mortified if I was mocked on television like this. Sajak should resign or be fired. Completely unacceptable.” More tweets expressed, “I think it’s time for Sajak to resign. I have NO RESPECT for anyone who makes fun of another who has a disability.”
A second, third, fourth time for everything
The Breakfast Club reports that as of February 25, neither Sajak nor Wheel of Fortune overall have commented on the incident. Users online want a formal apology from Sajak. In place of that, he shared a tweet that also received heavy criticism. He wrote, “Criticizing others is so much easier than examining our own lives… and so much less productive.”
https://twitter.com/DunningLissy/status/1364179986979172355
Similar responses in the past – to other incidents – gained disapproval both at the time, and renewed disapproval after the incident with Brimble. Additionally, the outlet notes, Sajak faced disapproval for his behavior in the past after almost four decades as host. In one incident, he called a contestant ungrateful, and in another he had a tense exchange with a different contestant over a bad pun. Coupling these together, Twitter users want Sajak removed from the show and the platform it offers. What do you think of the whole situation? How should he and others respond?
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