‘Jeopardy!’ Viewers Upset Over ‘Misogynistic’ Clue About Medical Condition

Jeopardy! viewers are upset after it included a misogynistic clue about a medical condition on the show. The clue was for a condition known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which is a manageable condition around the world that millions suffer from. Because so many people know about it, fans were quick to jump on the issue.

Guest host Savannah Guthrie began reading off the clue from the Plain-Named Maladies category: “Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is also known as Grinch Syndrome because this organ is too small.” The correct answer was, “What is the heart.”

Fans call out ‘Jeopardy!’ for misogynistic clue

Viewers took to Twitter to correct the clue, saying that the condition is not necessarily characterized by having a small heart. Johns Hopkins Medicine also notes that people’s heart rates can be greatly affected by the condition, but “the structure of the heart is normal” in most POTS patients.

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“@Jeopardymy daughter has suffered from POTS for 5 years! She isn’t a Grinch she is a WARRIOR!!! You need to apologize to the millions who suffer daily!!!” one viewer writes. Another says, “Can confirm, I have pots, and was extremely physically fit when it went suddenly from mild to severe. As a surprise to nobody, my heart is of normal size. This is absolute Bologna.”

A third viewer adds, “Also wtf pretty sure my POTS is not caused by having an abnormally small heart? Otherwise I am certain the cardiologists would have mentioned this to me during my ultrasound or my other Dr when they diagnosed me w POTS… no mention of small heart size ever made.”

Dysautonomia International, a non-profit organization that fundraises research and promotes awareness of disorders like POTS, also issued a statement calling for Jeopardy! to apologize for their “misogynistic” and “offensive” terminology. “Hey @Jeopardy no one with any credibility calls POTS “Grinch Syndrome.” Promoting outdated misogynistic terms to describe a debilitating autonomic nervous system disorder that impacts millions of Americans is not cool. We request an apology on behalf of our community. Do better,” they write.

In a follow-up tweet, they add, “This appeared on ‘Jeopardy’ tonight. Grinch syndrome is an offensive term. Can you imagine ‘Jeopardy’ making light of cancer or MS patients with a “funny” name for their debilitating health condition? Not acceptable. We’d love to see real questions about the autonomic nervous system.”