“Wheel of Fortune” viewers are outraged after host Ryan Seacrest snubbed one of the players over the game’s pronunciation rule.
Earlier this week, contestant Arzice Salonga lost the game’s first toss-up round that was worth $1,000.
The category was “Event,” as the two-word puzzle read, “A F _ I _ _ N / _ A _ A _ _.”
The law student and single mother from Medina, Ohio, buzzed and answered “African Safari,” but was told she was incorrect.
Fans of “Wheel of Fortune” were outraged after Ryan Seacrest snubbed one of the players over the game’s pronunciation rule.CBS
Another contestant, Brian Nelson from Texas, buzzed in and won the game with the correct pronunciation.
“Yes, safari is the way you have to say that,” Seacrest, 50, said. “I just checked with our judges to make sure.”
Salonga pronounced the word as “sa-fair-i” at the time.
Fans quickly took to social media to question the ruling.
Earlier this week, contestant Arzice Salonga, lost the game’s first toss-up round that was worth $1,000.CBS
The law student and single mother from Medina, Ohio, buzzed and answered “African Safari,” but was told she was incorrect.CBS
“Lady just said ‘sa-fairy’ on wheel of fortune… the puzzle was african safari,” one person on X wrote with an Ariana Grande meme attached.
“#WheelOfFortune Cmon, Wheel of Fortune judges. I knew what she meant when she said African ‘Safari’ that way,” another person tweeted.
Another person wrote on X: “Wheel of Fortune just penalized a player for a minor pronunciation error. Everyone knew exactly what she was saying.”
One person on Reddit added: “She was robbed IMO.”
Another contestant, Brian Nelson from Texas, buzzed in and won the game with the correct pronunciation. CBS
AD
Fans took to social media to share how Salonga was robbed of the win and questioned the ruling.Getty Images for CBS Media Ventures / Sony Pictures Television
This isn’t the first time Seacrest had a bizarre moment with a contestant.
Last month, Seacrest was tackled to the ground after an excited contestant won $40K for completing the last puzzle of the night.
“Living Things” was the final category and contestant Daniel Thomas chose the letters H, G, D and O. After being left with G _ _ _ _ E S, the “Wheel of Fortune” contestant beat the buzzer and correctly guessed “Guppies.”
Seacrest assured him, “I’m good, I’m good” after Thomas repeatedly asked him if he was okay.
