Jeopardy! fans aren’t happy with the game show’s choice of clue during a Final Jeopardy round that first aired in 2022 and resurfaced during a re-run Monday night.
Unlike previous instances in which the competition trivia show came under fire, this latest upset hasn’t been caused by a “poorly worded” clue, claims of inconsistent rulings or other controversies surrounding the host (which in this case, was Ken Jennings). But because viewers think the last question was “too easy.”
Belonging to the category “Places in American History,” the clue read: “A Native American story says this creek got its name from an injury suffered by a Sioux warrior in a fight with the crow.”
Two of the three contestants–Ryan Long, a ride-share driver from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Maureen O’Neil, an executive assistant residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts–guessed correctly, answering, “What is Wounded Knee?”
Audiences didn’t seem so shocked that a majority of the contestants got it right, taking to social media to insist that the final clues be more challenging.
“That’s a very easy final question,” one YouTuber mocked before another declared, “Too easy!”
“Damn. I guessed osteochondral fracture of the lateral femoral condyle compounded by a Bucket Handle meniscus tear,” a third joked.
Despite what fans think, there was a pretty big disparity in payouts, presumably because some contestants were more confident in their responses than others.
O’Neil claimed victory after netting an additional $8,399 for a total winnings of $16,799 that day, while Long finished in second place at $8,400 after only wagering $4,200.
The third, Megan Wachspress, an environmental attorney from Berkley, California, incorrectly submitted the response: “What is Dakota?” and lost her wager of $7,201, leaving her in last place.
