Ken Jennings Speaks Out on Fan Backlash for Controversial ‘Jeopardy’ Call

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Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings finally addressed that controversial decision he made during last Wednesday’s episode, which has left many fans upset.

The incident revolved around contestant Kelly Proulx, whose guess on the July 3 episode was just one letter off. The $2,000 clue required the answer “Bridalveil Fall,” but Proulx mistakenly said “Bridalveil Falls.” Jennings didn’t accept her response after deliberating with a panel of judges, leading to much debate among viewers on social media.

Jennings wanted to clear the air about his ruling and discussed what went down on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast which aired on Monday, July 8. The 50-year-old host discussed the incident with the contestants, including Proulx, Dana Keane, and Isaac Hirsch.

Ken JenningsKen Jennings hosts the Inaugural Inside JEOPARDY! live event at Edge at Hudson Yards on April 12, 2024 in New York City. Jennings recently addressed his controversial ruling from the Wednesday, July 3 episodes of…  Roy Rochlin//Getty Images for Edge at Hudson Yards
He started by complimenting their performances, saying, “Well, all three of you played well. It was not a foregone conclusion until the very end.” Addressing Proulx directly, he remarked, “Sadly, ‘Bridalveil Falls’ with the ‘S,'” and noted that Final Jeopardy didn’t affect the overall outcome since nobody answered correctly. He added, “I’m glad it didn’t hinge on my very harsh ruling on the ‘S.'”

Despite the contestants giving Jennings a pass, fans were rampant on social media over the past week upset with his “unfair” ruling. “Ready to individually fight the #Jeopardy judges for ruling ‘Bridalveil Falls’ wrong because of the extra “s” that was not germane to the clue. being pedantic to that degree is disgusting and negatively affects the game,” one X user (formerly known as Twitter) harshly wrote. Another user noted, “@Jeopardy just cheated champion Kelly by not accepting Bridal Veil Falls because it’s actually ‘Fall.’ But they accepted ‘larnyx’ for larynx. Make it make sense. 🤦‍♀️”

Fans must remember that Jennings, however, is no stranger to the pressures of being a contestant. Back in 2004, he made Jeopardy! history by winning 74 consecutive episodes, the longest winning streak ever for the game show. His remarkable performance also earned him the title of the highest-winning player, amassing over $2.5 million.