Pat Sajak yells ‘shut up’ at contestant, baffling at-home viewers

globalnews.ca:

Is Pat Sajak ok?

That’s the question many Wheel of Fortune viewers were asking themselves Tuesday night after they watched the game show host yell “shut up” at one of his contestants.

The moment came just before the show’s bonus round as Sajak, 77, was tallying up the players’ points.

“According to my math, by $200—” Sajak began to explain before he was interrupted by the excited player, Angela, shrieking “Shut up!” with excitement.

“You didn’t mean that personally?” he asked, with Angela assuring him she did not.

Sajak continued: “According to my math, by $233, you are the winner with $11,900.”

An ecstatic Angela continued to clap and shriek with excitement.

But it was the next line from Sajak that caused shock among at-home viewers.

“I’ll be back,” Sajak told Angela, before turning back to her to yell “Shut up!” in a mocking tone, trying to match her energy.

Did Pat Sajak just tell that contestant to «shut up?» <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/wheeloffortune?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#wheeloffortune

— WomenintheHouse (@Women_thehouse) <a href=«https://twitter.com/Women_thehouse/status/1747421739250790811?ref_src=» https:>January 17, 2024

While it was likely Sajak’s attempt at a joke, online fans expressed their disappointment in the host.

One person called it “highly disrespectful an (sic) inappropriate.”

<a href=«https://twitter.com/WheelofFortune?ref_src=» https:>@WheelofFortune

<a href=«https://twitter.com/patsajak?ref_src=» https:>@patsajak was highly disrespectful an inappropriate on the show that aired today (1/16/24). 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

— Chandra Hayes, Ed.D