Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak has caused a stir after telling a contestant to ‘shut up’.
The presenter, 77, has held the role since 1981, and has won several awards for it, but announced last year that this would be his final season.
On Tuesday’s episode, he left fans fuming after telling a player to ‘shut up’, although it appeared he was joking.
Contestant Angela couldn’t hold back her excitement as Pat revealed she had won.
He began by saying ‘According to my math…’ but was cut off by her squealing: ‘Shut up!’
‘You didn’t mean that personally,’ Pat replied, to which Angela corrected: ‘No, never!’
Pat went on: ‘According to my math, by $233 you are the winner with $11,900.’
As Angela celebrated her win, Pat hit back at her: ‘Shut up!’
He then laughed it off, making it clear he was just mimicking her earlier comment.
But fans weren’t keen on it, with one X user, @Ecupirategirl03. writing: ‘@WheelofFortune @PatSajak was highly disrespectful an inappropriate on the show that aired today (1/16/24). The contestant Angela yelled in excitement after winning and was told “Will you shut up!” Angela did not deserve to be spoken to in that manner. Joke or not. Do better.’
‘We heard that too and were horrified,’ @matt79q added.
Others rushed to Pat’s defence, with viewer @dogdaysofsumme2 saying: ‘It was a funny back and forth.’
@lawyersfortrump also wrote: ‘I was prepared to be outraged at him but if you go back and watch it, she says “SHUT UP!” when he walks up to her. I think he was continuing the joke, though his tone and inflection were harsh.’
@reidrosenthal1 said: ‘I don’t watch @WheelofFortune very often but Pat Sajak didn’t seem very happy this nice woman just won. She was excited and he told her to shut up????’
Pat has been nominated for 19 Daytime Emmys for outstanding game show host, taking home the trophy three times.
He also holds the Guinness World Records title for ‘having the longest career as a game show host for the same show’.