Viewers of the popular game show were left puzzled on Tuesday night as the 77-year-old host, Pat Sajak, unexpectedly yelled "be quiet" at one of the contestants during the bonus round.
The incident occurred while Sajak was calculating the players' points just before the final round. As he began to explain, "According to my math, by $200—" he was abruptly interrupted by the enthusiastic contestant, Angela, who joyfully shouted, "Be quiet!" in excitement.
Surprised, Sajak questioned, "You didn't mean that personally?" to which Angela assured him it was not.
Continuing with the results, Sajak stated, "According to my math, by $233, you are the winner with $11,900."
Angela, overjoyed, continued to applaud and express her excitement.
However, it was Sajak's following comment that stirred shock among viewers at home.
"I'll be back," Sajak informed Angela before turning back to her and mockingly exclaiming, "Be quiet!" to match her energy.
While some interpreted it as Sajak's attempt at humor, disappointed fans took to online platforms to express their dissatisfaction with the host's behavior.
One viewer described it as "highly disrespectful and inappropriate," while another commented that "shouting 'be quiet' at a Black woman... is not a good look."
On the other hand, some defended Sajak, suggesting that he was likely just trying to inject some fun into the show.
Last year, Sajak announced that the ongoing season would be his final one as the host of Wheel of Fortune, concluding a remarkable tenure that began in 1981. His iconic co-host, Vanna White, joined the show the following year, contributing to its success by managing the game board and revealing letters guessed by contestants.
