Jeopardy!Contestant Involved in Sexist Clue Incident Speaks Out About the 'Uncomfortable' Moment: 'An Odd Choice'

Mar. 15, 2025

Heather Ryan on Jeopardy!.Photo:ABC

ABC

AJeopardy!contestant is addressing the sexist clue that was given on a recent episode.

Heather Ryan, who competed on the Oct. 28 episode of the quiz competition show, spoke to Binghamton University’s student-run newspaperPipe Dreamon Nov. 6 to address asexist clue that drew attentionto the show.

After reading the hint, “Men seldom make passes at…,” to which the answer was, “Girls who wear glasses,” hostKen Jenningsrealized Ryan was wearing glasses and apologized.

“It is definitely an odd choice,” Ryan told the paper. “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.’”

Ryan’s suggestion? “Maybe we choose better rhyming phrases in 2024,” she said.

“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 continued. “So, I think it’s much better to be able to see than anything else.”

Heather Ryan on Jeopardy!.ABC

“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.”

On the episode, Jennings admitted that the line was “a little problematic,” and said, “Sorry, Heather” immediately after reading it. Contestant Will Wallace, who gave the answer, emphasized that was “very” problematic.

Ken Jennings on ‘Jeopardy’.Eric McCandless/Disney

Eric McCandless/Disney

Jennings has held the position of official host for just under a year after guest hosting whenAlex Trebekdied in late 2020. Trebek had been on the show for 37 seasons before his deathfrom pancreatic cancer. Jennings was well known to fans from his 74 consecutiveJeopardy!wins in 2004.

Trebek even hostedthe game show’sGreatest of All Timetournamentin January 2020, where Jennings competed against fellowJeopardy!greats James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter. Jennings ended up winning $1 million, while Holzhauer and Rutter were each awarded $250,000.

“It has taken 15 years for Ken Jennings to finally answer the question, ‘Is he as good as he appeared to be in that great run onJeopardy?’” Trebeksaid after Jennings’victory.

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Jeopardy!airs weeknights on ABC (check local listings).

source: people.com