This story, originally published in January 2024, highlights a recent uproar among Wheel of Fortune fans, who believe contestant Megan was unfairly denied a $40,000 prize due to a misjudged answer during the bonus round.
Megan, a California high school choir director, faced the bonus puzzle under the “Living Thing” category. The incomplete phrase “_ N’R _ _ ” was displayed as Megan approached the puzzle board with host Pat Sajak. With her chosen letters, the board revealed “P_N’ RC _ D.” In the final seconds, Megan guessed a response sounding like “Pink Orchid” or a similar variation. However, the judges ruled against her, stating the correct answer was indeed “Pink Orchid.” Megan visibly reacted with frustration when the correct letters were illuminated.
Sajak revealed that Megan missed out on the $40,000 prize, leaving her with $14,007 in winnings instead. Fans watching at home were outraged, claiming Megan had indeed said “Pink Orchid” and deserved the prize. Social media quickly lit up with complaints.
One viewer wrote:
“The woman got screwed on the #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight; she totally said ‘PINK ORCHID’ right at the start.”
Another fan, who relies on subtitles due to partial hearing, added:
“She called it: ‘Pink Orchid.’ Without a doubt!”
Others expressed their dismay:
“I’m exploding! She said it—pink orchid! WTF?”
Viewers urged the show to review the footage and compensate Megan for what they perceived as a clear mistake.
In addition to Megan’s controversy, fans are increasingly vocal about what they see as recent errors on Wheel of Fortune. On January 22, the show faced criticism over a ruling in the “Rhyme Time” category. One contestant solved the puzzle with “Absolutely Positively,” but fans argued the words do not rhyme.
A frustrated viewer tweeted:
“Hey @WheelofFortune, could you please clarify how these two words rhyme? Because they most definitely do not.”
The backlash over these incidents reflects a growing frustration among the show’s fans, who are calling for more consistency and fairness in its rulings. Whether Wheel of Fortune will respond to these critiques remains to be seen.