Vanna White Struggles Working With Ryan Seacrest And May Exit ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Early: Report
With Ryan Seacrest set to replace Pat Sajak in the new season of Wheel of Fortune, some sources say there may be even more changes coming to the long-running game show than initially expected.
A recent report fromThe Daily Mailalleges that Vanna White may be looking to leave the show even sooner than expected, despite spending months fighting for a much deserved raise and contract extension.
“There is a part of her that wants to walk away sooner. It is just so difficult to do this without Pat,” the source said. “Vanna feels that she has put her time in. She devoted her entire life to this show and she had an incredible run while making a fortune.”
And now that the show is heading in a new direction with Seacrest, White is allegedly having second thoughts about staying on with the new host.
“She knows that the show needs to go in a different direction and appeal to a younger demographic. She wants the show to continue. This will require a younger female host, someone who can be to Ryan what she was to Pat,” the source said.
Another source also claimed that she’s having trouble working with Seacrest.
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“She just doesn’t jibe with Ryan like she did with Pat, and no one really ever expected her to. There is just no way that she possibly could,” the source said.
Previous reports claim that Sony execs are hoping to make White’s current contract her last after the model and longtime Wheel co-host recently negotiated her first raise in almost 18 years. Negotiations reportedly became tense after White lawyered up and demanded “the same pay — if not more” than what Sajak was making on the show.
In September, it was announced that White officially extended her contract for two more years, which means she will certainly be at Seacrest’s side when he takes over in Season 42. Deadine confirmed White received a “believed” raise for both Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Wheel of Fortune.
If the reports are true, maybe Sajak’s emotional goodbye is causing some second thoughts.
“Finally, to my professional other half, dear Vanna… Vanna is as sweet and unassuming as she seems. We’ve seen a lot of changes in each other’s lives over the years but we’ve always been there for each other,” he said in his final episode. “I’ll very much miss working with her.”
A premiere date has not been announced for Wheel of Fortune Season 42, but filming has already begun.
