“Wheel of Fortune” is facing backlash from fans after a recent episode left viewers questioning both the rules of the game and the host’s handling of a tense puzzle round.
The drama unfolded during an episode that originally aired on March 31 and later rebroadcast on June 16 as part of the show’s summer reruns. Contestants Sheree Corder from Tampa, Florida, Todd Meyer of Las Vegas, and Latricia Randolph from Franklin, Tennessee, competed for the night’s big prize.
Corder, who describes herself as an adventure lover and travel enthusiast, got off to a strong start, correctly solving the first two toss-up puzzles — “Expect the Unexpected” and “Model Airplane Kit” — earning $3,000 early. She later secured a Wild Card, boosting her total to $6,600.
The controversy began during the first crossword puzzle of the night, a round in which all four answers share a common theme and must be stated exactly as displayed on the board. The category for the round was “Party.”
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Randolph started the round but missed her guess. Meyer then stepped in, correctly identifying all four answers: “Party Time,” “Party Animal,” “Party Decorations,” and “Party Bus.” However, host Ryan Seacrest informed Meyer that his answers were incorrect because he included the word “Party” each time, instead of only saying the words on the board — “Time, Animal, Decorations, Bus.”
Meyer, visibly frustrated, lowered his head in disbelief. Corder then provided the correct response and claimed the round.
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“That’s the rule — you have to say exactly what’s on the board,” Seacrest explained, adding, “It’s a shame she stole it from you.”
Fans immediately took to social media, questioning the fairness of the rule. Many expressed frustration over the lack of a clear explanation before the round. On Reddit, one user wrote, “Ryan failing to give contestants a reminder about how to solve crossword puzzles. Makes me mad every time!” Another added, “Sometimes he says it, sometimes he doesn’t. It’s totally unfair.”
Meyer bounced back later in the show, dominating the Triple Toss-Up puzzles and earning $10,000. Randolph also scored big with a puzzle that awarded her a trip to Ireland, bringing her total to $12,190. Corder regained momentum by solving “Dancing in the Dark,” securing her spot in the Bonus Round with $16,600 and a Wild Card.
However, the final puzzle left viewers equally baffled. The category was “Phrase,” and after the standard letter selections (R, S, T, L, N, E) and the contestant’s choices (C, D, M, I, P), the board displayed: _ _ _ _ P IT _ P. Despite several guesses, Corder could not solve it. The answer was revealed to be “Whoop It Up.”Fans were quick to share their disbelief online. “Who even says that?” commented one viewer on YouTube. Another added, “That doesn’t even sound like a real phrase.” A third wrote, “Literally never heard that in my life. One of the worst bonus round phrases I’ve seen.”
Ultimately, Corder missed out on the $40,000 bonus, finishing with $16,600. Randolph took home $12,190, while Meyer walked away with $10,000. The episode sparked widespread discussion among fans, many of whom felt Meyer had been unfairly penalized and that the final puzzle was unreasonably difficult.
As “Wheel of Fortune” continues to air new and rerun episodes, viewers are likely to keep debating the rules, the bonus puzzles, and the fairness of the competition. One thing is certain: the game show still knows how to create tension, controversy, and passionate fan reactions.