Jeopardy!' contestant says controversial sexist clue was 'a little uncomfortable'
Portrait of Jay StahlJay Stahl
A past "Jeopardy!" contestant is speaking out about a misogynistic clue.
Heather Ryan, who appeared on an Oct. 28 episode of the game show, told Binghamton University student news outlet Pipe Dream in New York that one hint was "a little uncomfortable."
Host Ken Jennings read, "Men seldom make passes at…," to which the answer was, "Girls who wear glasses." Ryan was the only female contestant on stage, and she was wearing glasses. Jennings later apologized.
"It is definitely an odd choice. I think it made everybody in the audience and on stage, and Ken Jennings too, a little uncomfortable. It was like, 'oh, that was unexpected.' Maybe we choose better rhyming phrases in 2024," she said.
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After the incident took place, Jennings said, "A little problematic, sorry Heather" in reference to Ryan.
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for "Jeopardy" for comment.
Ryan added: "Unfortunately, there are still girls who are (in) middle school, and they don't want to wear their glasses and they're losing out on their education. So, I think it's much better to be able to see than anything else."
According to the J! Archive, which tracks "Jeopardy" contestant winnings, Ryan amassed $19,600 in second place but lost by $1 to Cleveland food sales rep Ian Taylor.
Despite the uncomfortable moment, Ryan said the "Jeopardy" experience "was very fun," and "I had a great time. Everybody there was very welcoming." Her and Taylor came in front of four-day champion Will Wallace, a video game designer from Austin, Texas. The trio of contestants continue to stay connected even after their episode aired, according to Pipe Dream.
"It's such a part of American culture that I definitely wanted to go on when I got the call for it," Ryan told the outlet, noting she filmed the episode in Los Angeles earlier this year during summer.
I think it made everybody in the audience and on stage, and Ken Jennings too, a little uncomfortable," contestant Heather Ryan said.
Heather Ryan on Jeopardy!
Heather Ryan on Jeopardy!Jeopardy! / ABC
By Gabriella Rudy
A "Jeopardy!" contestant is addressing the "problematic" clue given on the Oct. 28 episode of the show that host Ken Jennings apologized to her for.
Heather Ryan, who came in second place by just $1, spoke to Binghamton University’s student-run newspaper Pipe Dream on Wednesday to share her thoughts on the clue.
From the category "Complete the Rhyming Phrase," it read, "Men seldom make passes at..." To which the correct answer was, "Girls who wear glasses."
'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings apologizes after 'problematic' clue
00:53
Ryan, the only female competitor on the episode, happened to be wearing glasses.
Jennings read the clue with a slightly awkward tone, then immediately apologized to Heather after it was answered.
"Yeah, a little problematic," he said. "Sorry, Heather."
Contestant Will Wallace, who buzzed in first, agreed that it was "very" problematic.
"I think it made everybody in the audience and on stage, and Ken Jennings too, a little uncomfortable," Ryan told the paper. "It was like, 'Oh, that was unexpected.'"
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She went on to suggest, "Maybe we choose better rhyming phrases in 2024."
"Unfortunately, there are still girls who are [in] middle school and they don’t want to wear their glasses and they’re losing out on their education," she said. "So, I think it’s much better to be able to see than anything else."
Other than that awkward moment, Ryan said the show was "very fun" to be a part of.
"I had a great time," she said. "Everybody there was very welcoming. It’s such a part of American culture that I definitely wanted to go on when I got the call for it."
"It’s just a very special thing to play a small role in this big part," she added. "It’s been running for 40 years, and so I got to play my part in it."
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