Danger! Viewers were left speechless after a contestant candidly divulged her struggles with bowel function during Thursday’s episode.
Hakme Lee, a science instructional technician from Seattle, revealed she had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) midway through the show, when host Ken Jennings took a moment to meet the players.
When the 50-year-old presenter turned his attention to Hakme, he asked: “Did you know your fiancé was a keeper after just three dates?”
She responded, “So I have IBS, which is medical speak because I go to the bathroom when I’m nervous, and I was very open about it with him.”
“On our third date, which was dinner at his house, I go to his apartment, he takes my coat, then he guides me by the elbow and shows me where the bathroom is.”
Danger! Viewers couldn’t believe their ears after Ken Jennings met his players.
They were surprised when contestant Hakme Lee candidly discussed her struggles with IBS during Thursday’s game.
Ken was visibly stunned by Hakme’s revelation and responded: ‘Look at that. Considered.
‘What is the opposite of a red flag? I love that.’
Viewers were also taken aback by the unexpected story and shared their disbelief online, with one writing: “Absolutely crazy that your fun fact on #Jeopardy is about shit.”
Another posted on X: ‘Nice IBS story, but… She knows it, it’s on TV, right?’
A third added: ‘I love that one of the contestants mentioned the reality of having IBS. Good for her!’
‘TMI Hakme,’ another simply wrote.
A fifth said: “LOL – I can’t believe Hakme chose ‘I go to the bathroom when I’m nervous’ as a conversation topic with Ken.”
IBS is a long-term functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort, accompanied by alterations in intestinal function.
Hakme revealed that on her third date with her future husband, he showed her where his bathroom was.
Viewers at home were also taken aback by Hakme’s unexpected story.
Symptoms of the syndrome, which affects one in 20 people worldwide, can include frequent or infrequent bowel movements, abnormal stools, abnormal passage of stools, and extreme bloating.
Thursday’s episode ended with contestant Adriana Harmeyer leading the way once again with a total of $278,500 in 12 games.
Hakme finished the game with $6,200.
Earlier this week, Jeopardy! Viewers were left outraged after Ken asked the players “the easiest last question ever”, leading many to accuse the show of “dumbing down” the questions.
At the end of Tuesday night’s episode, Ken revealed that contestants Sarah Hartzell, Scott McCann and Adriana would be tested on their American geography.
Before giving the trio 30 seconds to prepare their answers, Ken read the clue: “Of the 10 US states with two-word names, this one extends the furthest south.”
After the timer went off, Ken announced that Sarah had gotten in faster.
—What status did you write down, Sarah? she asked, to which she said, ‘What is New Mexico?’
“And that’s correct,” Ken confirmed. “Well south of second place, South Carolina, the next two-word state further south.”
But Danger! Fans were furious about the ‘elementary school map question’ and criticized the presenter for not presenting something more challenging.
“I implore @Jeopardy host @KenJennings to do something to simplify the #Jeopardy finale,” one irate viewer wrote on X.
Another fumed: ‘No one likes seeing a super easy #Jeopardy final clue in a game that doesn’t run amok. Both the contestants and the viewers!’