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Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak found himself at the center of controversy following an awkward moment on a recent show episode. The incident occurred when the television personality, known for his witty banter and occasional playful interactions with contestants, told a participant to shut up. Although the game show host joked with his remark, Pat Sajak and the contestant had an awkward moment. In no time, the clip went viral. Soon, social media platforms erupted with discussions, with fans of the beloved show weighing in on Sajak’s actions.
Wheel of Fortune Host Pat Sajak Shuts Down a Player
An interaction between Pat Sajak and a contestant on Tuesday’s episode of Wheel of Fortune sparked a heated debate among fans. The uproar began after the host told one of the participants to “shut up” — even though he was joking. The controversial moment came just before the show’s bonus round when Sajak tallied the points from the most recent round.
“According to my math, by $200…” Sajak began before getting interrupted by contestant Angela Omezie, who found out she won the round. Out of excitement, Omezie playfully screeched, “Shut up” at the host, causing him to freeze.
“You didn’t mean that personally,” Sajak asked, to which the player responded, “No… never.” The host then continued his sentence:
“According to my math, by $233, you are the winner with $11,900.”
Ecstatic about her win, Omezie began clapping excitedly before Sajak yelled, “Shut up,” in an attempt to match her energy.
Sajak’s Remark Stirs Up Mixed Reactions
Although Wheel of Fortune host Sajak’s remark was meant to be all fun, it ignited a fierce debate among Wheel of Fortune enthusiasts on X. On one end of the spectrum, fans saw nothing wrong with Sajak’s remark, noting that it was simply banter.
“He was NOT telling her to ‘shut up.’ She said to HIM ‘shut up’ in excitement and he said it back. They were bantering. I was initially upset but realized there was a ‘shut up’ joke going on between the two,” a fan explained.
A second fan noted that Omezie did something wrong in the past, and karma finally caught up with her.
“She clearly deserved it for something she did wrong when she was a child but didn’t get busted for doing. It took this long for karma to get to her but it never forgets,” they shared.
On the other side of the spectrum, a tweep described Sajak’s remark as disrespectful and inappropriate.
“The contestant Angela yelled in excitement after winning and was told ‘will you shut up!’ Angela did not deserve to be spoken to in that manner. Joke or not. Do better,” the fan wrote.
Whether this incident has a lasting impact on Sajak’s reputation or is regarded as a momentary lapse in judgment remains unknown.