Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings apologizes to contestant after reading ‘sexist’ clue

On Monday’s episode of Jeopardy!, Ken caused an uproar when he hinted at an answer that was insulting to some viewers and the game show’s participant

Ken Jennings apologizes for an offensive Jeopardy! clue (
Image: Disney)

Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings apologized on behalf of the game show after an offensive clue made it to the trivia board.

On Monday’s episode of Jeopardy!, Ken caused an uproar when he hinted at an answer that was insulting to some viewers and the game show’s participant. The former Jeopardy! champ, now host, caught backlash after he read a controversial clue from the “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category.

“Men seldom make passes at…,” Ken read on the show.

The answer to the clue was: “Girls who wear glasses.” Right after reading it, the moderator spotlighted that the clue was “a little problematic” to say before he proceeded to apologize to glasses-wearing woman contestant, Heather Ryan.

“Sorry, Heather,” Ken told her. Fellow contestant Will Wallace cosigned Ken, adding “very.” Although Ken didn’t write the question, he unfortunately still got included in the Jeopardy! backlash. Since becoming a host on the show, Ken has been hit with criticism from fans.

Ken assumed the role of Jeopardy! host after the show’s iconic host Alex Trebek, who hosted the program for 37 seasons since its 1984 debut, died in 2020. Initially, Ken was a guest host, but in December 2023 he became a permanent host.

The recent Jeopardy! clue has sparked backlash ( 
Image:
Disney)
Ken’s place on Jeopardy! is befitting since he won 74 consecutive games in 2004. One of the last few shows that Alex hosted before he passed was Jeopardy!’s Greatest of All Time Tournament, which featured Ken as a competitor.

He competed against fellow star Jeopardy! players James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter. Ken came out on top, taking home the $1 million.

“It has taken 15 years for Ken Jennings to finally answer the question, ‘Is he as good as he appeared to be in that great run on Jeopardy?’” Alex said after Ken triumphed. In an interview with Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa following his big win, Ken got real about his intelligence, specifically when he was in school.

“I was a pretty good student,” Ken told the married couple. “My worst grade ever — I don’t think I ever failed a test — but my worst grade on my résumé is a C+ in seventh grade Home Ec. My worst subject.”

He added: “My creme puffs were amazing. Then we got into the sewing units, and my apron was terrible. I put one of the straps on backwards, and when I realized, I was like, ‘You know what, I don’t actually care. I’m not going to redo this.’” Ken admitted, “I got the C+ I deserved.”