“Jeopardy!” Fans Outraged Over “Problematic” Clue Deemed Sexist by Ken Jennings

In a recent episode of “Jeopardy!” Monday night, host Ken Jennings faced backlash after presenting what many viewers considered a “sexist” clue.

The incident occurred during the “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category, where Jennings read the phrase, “Men seldom make passes at…” Returning champion Will Wallace quickly answered, “Girls who wear glasses,” referencing a line from poet Dorothy Parker.

However, the situation grew tense as contestant Heather Ryan, who wore glasses, stood visibly uncomfortable.

Jennings, aware of the potential for offense, quickly apologized, saying, “A little problematic, sorry Heather.” Wallace agreed, adding simply, “Very.” Ryan, a health program director from Binghamton, New York, refrained from commenting. She ultimately lost the game by a mere $1 to new champion Ian Taylor, a food sales representative from Cleveland, Ohio.

The interaction sparked an uproar on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter). “‘Yeah, a little problematic’ — Ken, Um, then why didn’t you bring that up to the writers before the game?” wrote one fan, highlighting viewers’ discontent with the choice of the phrase. Another user posted, “More like extremely problematic! #girlswithglasses,” while a third called it “sexist and rude,” adding, “She’s used her intelligence to get on here, only to be insulted.”

On Reddit, fans criticized both Jennings and the show’s writers, with one viewer writing, “Frankly, I don’t need to hear Ken read an obviously outdated and inappropriate clue and then call it ‘problematic.’

Maybe he can use his position to get it switched out before it goes over the air.” Another added, “There are plenty of other rhyming phrases to choose from that don’t make your contestants, your host, and your audience visibly uncomfortable.”

This isn’t the first time Jennings has faced public scrutiny. After joining as a guest co-host in 2021 following the passing of the beloved Alex Trebek, Jennings has since been critiqued for various on-air decisions.

Fans have faulted him for everything from disallowing answers slightly off by one letter to joking about the elderly, which many found tasteless. In August, speculation swirled that he might be replaced by “SNL” star Colin Jost, who was announced as the host for a new “Jeopardy!” spinoff, “Pop Culture Jeopardy!”

However, insiders reportedly dispelled these rumors, with a source telling The US Sun, “The only real reason to replace Ken is if the ratings took a nosedive, and that hasn’t happened yet. The show is holding steady.”

With its dedicated following, “Jeopardy!” has navigated a unique blend of tradition and controversy, and the recent incident reflects a growing dialogue about language and sensitivity in long-standing television staples. “Jeopardy!” continues to air weekdays at 7 p.m. ET.