Ken Jennings Faces Backlash for His Cutting Remark on Jeopardy! Contestant's Error Moments Before Isaac Hirsch Clinches His 9th Win – What Controversial Words Were Uttered?

Ken Jennings called out for ‘rubbing in’ Jeopardy! player’s mistake with harsh comment before Isaac Hirsch nabs 9th win

JEOPARDY! champ Isaac Hirsch clinched an astounding ninth win on Monday night as Ken Jennings openly criticized a challenger’s Daily Double wager.

The game show’s latest serious streaker faced Brenna Sniatecki from Rochester, New York, and James Hayakawa from Davis, California.

Brenna Sniatecki (right) found the last Daily Double with a shot at the leadCredit: Jeopardy!

She got the clue correct as ‘Finch’ but only wagered $3000Credit: Jeopardy!

Ken Jennings remarked, ‘Maybe you could have bet more’Credit: Jeopardy!
After his biggest payday yet in the last episode, the Burbank, California champ returned for a new week (or tape day).

By the end of the Jeopardy! round, Isaac (after a hilarious Jeff Goldblum story and Daily Double get) led with $6,600, James $2,800, and Brenna $3,000.

In Double Jeopardy!, Isaac got the second Daily Double incorrect, dropping $3000 from his wide lead, giving his foes an opening.

However, neither entirely took it – as James repeatedly returned to the category with the uncovered Daily Double.

But it was Brenna’s mistake in hindsight that Ken, 50, bluntly pointed out to viewers.

‘MAYBE…’

Brenna found the last Daily Double and had $6200 to the champ’s $11,000 at the time as Ken remarked, “You’ve got a decision to make!”

Brenna only bet $3,000 instead of going all-in (which would have given her the lead), and she got it correct as “Scout.”

Ken ruled her correct by saying, “Maybe you could have bet more.”

“But you have $9200 – four clues left,” he added.

Isaac held on to a slim lead into Final Jeopardy! with $11,200, while Brenna had $10,000 and James had $4,000.

The NEWER WORDS clue was, “Philosophers use it for language that accompanies an action, like “I dub thee knight”; it also means done for show or signal.”

Isaac and James both correctly answered “performative,” with Isaac adding $8,801 to win $20,001 for a nine-day total of $215,390.

‘MADE SURE TO RUB IT IN’

Fans took to social media, where some said that Ken’s comment to Brenna about her missed opportunity was a bit out-of-pocket.

“The host made sure to rub it in after Brenna’s wager on DD3 and correct response left her short of the lead, saying “Maybe you could have bet more,'” one Redditor wrote.

Ken’s remark aside, others agreed that Brenna’s wager was a misfire, but it didn’t impact the results since she missed Final Jeopardy.

“Fortunately for Brenna, it wouldn’t have mattered to the outcome since Isaac got FJ right and she missed. But yeah, that wager was a classic ‘I’m more afraid to lose than I am determined to win’ move,” another wrote.

“Isaac has rapidly entered my favorite Jeopardy contestants list,” rejoiced a third. “He’s got the best of both worlds: strong, smart gameplay and some of the funniest anecdote sections ever! Go Isaac!”

Isaac will go for win number ten on Tuesday night’s episode, making him a super-champion.

ISAAC ON THE PRIZE

Isaac arrived on Wednesday, July 3, and has been the reigning champ ever since.

Isaac now boasts the longest winning streak of the past year, only behind 15-day champ Adriana Harmeyer.

He’s gone 247 correct, 40 incorrect on clues overall, 13/17 on Daily Doubles, and 7/9 on Final Jeopardy – all excellent stats.

“Well… I think Isaac could be here for a while,” one Redditor recently and plainly put it.

Other fans have speculated that Isaac may be the frontrunner for the next Tournament of Champions.

So far, the other qualifiers are Survivor alum Drew Basile (7 wins), Adriana (15 wins), Alison Betts (5 wins) Dr. Amy Hummel (5 wins), and Celebrity Jeopardy!’s Lisa Ann Walter.

With four wins, Grant DeYoung and Amar Kakirde will also likely join in too – the annual $250,000 tournament will be in early 2025.

STAND-UP GUY

Isaac has also won over fans with his hilarious Q&A stories – no surprise, given his side hustle as a stand-up comedian.

During tonight’s win, he recalled once professionally impersonating Jeff Goldblum but being unable to capture the actor’s “strange sexual energy.”

Jeopardy! champ Isaac Hirsch jokes he’s the ‘awkward kid’ in rowdy old stand-up clip as fans gush, ‘love him!’
During his eighth win, he finally revealed he was a comic, recalling a “brutal” gig that involved performing with a malfunctioning mic on a minor league baseball field.

During his fourth win, he recalled a recent fitness journey that left his figure “exactly the same” after “bulking up and gaining 30 pounds.”

During his third win, he shared that not himself but his car had a cameo on the TV show Brooklyn 99.

During win two, he drew laughs by recalling how he “ironically” was crowned high school homecoming king.

“Protect Isaac at all costs how is he so effortlessly funny,” one Instagram user recently praised.

“I don’t recall any contestant having such a run of funny and/or charming anecdotes,” wrote another.

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

The champ has also notably turned heads with his flashy wardrobe choices that give ’70s menswear.

“That current champion looks like a 70s p*rn star,” one Facebook user recently snarked.

“I’m guessing Isaac hit Studio 54 after that show’s taping,” mocked another.

In an Instagram post, Isaac shut down his fashion haters, writing, “The Internet is divided on my love of 70s menswear.

“Good news for the haters: I am almost out of vintage shirts approved by wardrobe. So if I keep winning, the fits are going to get a lot more subdued.”

Indeed, Isaac has since run out of ’70s outfits approved by wardrobe but hasn’t run out of steam.

‘DAD WAS ON JEOPARDY! – AND LOST’

Isaac came in hot during his first win with a Q&A story revealing that his dad appeared on Jeopardy! – and lost – 30 years ago.

“My dad was on Jeopardy! in the ’80s and one of the first years Alex hosted, and he lost,” said Isaac.

“I used to tease him about it as a kid. Like Weird Al’s ‘I Lost On Jeopardy!,” being like, ‘It’s about you, Dad!’”

Ken burst out laughing as Isaac concluded, “So today, we get to find out how real karma is.”

Jeopardy! shared an Instagram video of the story, and Isaac’s dad, Steven, buzzed into the comments section, demanding a second chance.

“If Ken Jennings is going to keep mentioning that I lost on Jeopardy, I want another chance! Bring me back for another shot at winning!,” Steve wrote.

Isaac was also previously on The Chase and on Millionaire – all clearly paying off on the Jeopardy! stage.