‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Under Fire For Robbing Contestant Of Her Win

Fans got mad at Jeopardy! show host Ken Jennings during Wednesday night’s episode after a contestant’s answer was chosen over another’s. This happened during the “Final Jeopardy!” round, specifically the College Towns category, where three players had to guess the names of college locations with a hint.

Contestant Rishabh, a second-year student at the University of Pennsylvania, won the round after staking his $9,801 for an edge against environmental attorney Jay Eversman and associate professor Rachel Cassidy; however, viewers were not having it.

‘Jeopardy!’ fans say the winner’s answer was illegible

Rishabh and Rachel gave the same answer “What Is Columbia?,” but Rishabh was deemed the winner and $20,201 richer. Fans took to social media, noting that Rachel’s written answer was more legible and easier to read; therefore, she should have earned the prize instead.

They also suggested that the show consider keyboards instead of scribbling next time. “I watched last night and I totally disagree with the outcome…I could make out the c but what was next looked like a d. The rest was chicken scratch…Rachel should have been the winner,” someone protested on X.

Not Ken Jennings’ first time

Outrage like this happens from time to time, as viewers tend to be observant and sentimental about who is deserving of the prize. A recent episode caused a stir when a fan forfeited his potential prize money because he mispronounced the answer multiple times.

Instead of Eamonn Campbell, who fumbled with the word “anaesthesiologist,” the money went to contestant Dot White, after he said the seconds later but the right way. “Jeopardy and Ken Jennings blows it again… screwing Eamonn out of his answer ‘anesthesiologist’…. Unbelievable!!” someone exclaimed online after the episode.