It wasn’t that long ago that Pat Sajak found himself criticized for his behavior on Wheel of Fortune. During that instance, the long time game show host called a contestant “ungrateful.” Some fans said he was trying to be funny. Other viewers thought he had snapped.
Sajak’s sense of humor doesn’t always come across as funny, and he has messed up again. This time, while he was talking to a contestant with a lisp, he appeared to make fun of the lisp. How? By mimicking it.
One viewer posted a clip of the game show on Twitter, and fans are outraged. Watch the clip below for yourself to hear what they’re mad about.
Did @patsajak just mock one of the contestants?? @WheelofFortune @TMZ pic.twitter.com/brJIMEB4yh
— phil (@nicolegphil) February 23, 2021
Did you hear it? Honestly, we had to watch the clip multiple times in order to hear what Sajak did wrong. Apparently, he said “thee” instead of “see,” and viewers believe he did this on purpose to mock the contestant’s lisp.
Did you hear “thee” or “see”? Watch it again.
You’ll notice that the contestant laughs after Sajak says “I thee.” Was he offended? He doesn’t appear to be. He later wrote on Twitter that the game show was a “super fun experience.”
Regardless of whether or not the contestant is upset or offended, multiple viewers were offended. Some even think it’s time for Sajak to stop hosting Wheel of Fortune.
He’s been a problem for a long time. I have yet to see any redeeming qualities in him as a TV host. The show has grown old and stale. He needs to go.
— Rory B. Bellows (@RoryBellows8) February 25, 2021
Pat needs to retire. Stopped watching long ago for this same reason, either he’s helping contestants he like, or insulting them. Boycott the show, I’m sure he’ll be replaced.
— shanique robinson (@sr_shanique) February 23, 2021
Yet other fans are upset that viewers are picking on Sajak.
Sorry…i hear a definite “see”. Why is everyone trying to pick on poor ole Pat lately? Yeah he screwed up once but now ppl r just looking for reasons to call him out. Tsk, tsk. Nothing better to do?
— Raymie (@Raymie31050887) February 23, 2021
Some viewers are defending Sajak saying that he was trying to be funny, and that it was not meant to be mean.
This is exactly what I was thinking when I read the article that lead me to this tweet. And once again, the people getting offended don’t seem to have a lisp, as far as I can tell(I don’t have one either, but I understand the joke). Plus the contestant wasn’t offended.
— Rochelle H (@Hudson5823) February 24, 2021
Do you think Sajak was just trying to be funny? Do you hear “see” or “thee”?