Pat Sajak trolls fish-phobic Wheel of Fortune contestant by showing her a fake fish
‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak is coming under fire for presenting a fake fish to a contestant who earlier on the show told him he was afraid of the sea creature.
During an episode that aired last week, the longtime host questions contestant Ashley about her unusual phobia before he pulls a prank on her later in the episode.
At the beginning of the episode, Ashley had told Sajak about her fear of fish: ‘Nothing, nothing at all. If they’re on a plate or in the water, I don’t want to be near them.
After pulling out the fake animal, Ashley quickly turned away, refusing to look at the prop. While she later said that she might be willing to let it slide, the internet isn’t all that forgiving.
“I have seen the wheel of fortune every day for most of my life. Tonight’s episode was so wild. The fake fish thing at the end… I’ve never seen Pat do this kind of mischief,” one commenter said on Instagram.
‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak is coming under fire for presenting a fake fish to a contestant who earlier on the show told him he was afraid of the sea creature.
Some on social media thought ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak took the joke too far.
The situation started during the introductions at the beginning of the episode when Sajak addressed Ashley asking her about her phobia.
You don’t like fish. You don’t like to eat them, you don’t like to swim with them? he asked her.
That’s when she fired back, telling the host that she doesn’t “want to be around them” ever.
He continued to press, asking her what the reason was to try to understand.
“Did fish scare you when you were a kid?” asks the host.
“It’s a long story Pat, we don’t have time,” she replied, laughing.
Just before the bonus round began, Sajak was approached by another contestant after Ashley secured her spot in the final puzzle.
As he started to walk over to congratulate her, he stopped in front of the other contestant and said, ‘I have to go congratulate Ashley, can you do me a favor? I don’t want her to see this, just hold onto this.’
At that moment, the host took out the fake fish and handed it to the man.
Ashley looked irritated and a little scared as she turned away from the fish and the camera, yet she kept giggling.
Sajak then approached the winner and asked if she was okay, even grabbing her arm to try and comfort her.
The winning contestant continued to play with the gag, but refused to look at the props.
Later, the presenter seemed to recognize his joke, saying: ‘You’ll forgive me for that, won’t you?’
Ashley quietly replied that she “could” forgive him for the gag.
The timing didn’t seem to deter her from her game, though, as she cracked the final bonus round riddle, taking home a grand total of $63,000.
Sajak removed the fake fish from his jacket and gave it to another contestant as a joke.
Ashley couldn’t look at the fake fish or Sajak after the host made the joke
Fortunately, Ashley was able to laugh and continue playing.
The contestant later said that she “could” forgive Sajak for his prank.
The last laugh went to Ashely though, as she won $63,000 for solving the final puzzle.
The suspicious exchange occurred during an episode of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ that aired last week.
The television host has worked alongside Vanna White for more than 40 years on the show.
‘Pat is shady,’ said one social media user, while another said: ‘Naughty Pat’
Despite Ashley admitting that she could forgive the host, some people on the internet took issue with Sajak’s prank.
“Pat is suspicious,” said one social media user.
‘Naughty Pat,’ another person wrote.
Others defended Sajak and the gag, saying it was just “a joke” and that he didn’t mean anything by it.
“Pat Sajak’s comedic genius is…unmatched,” wrote one person.
“Pat was so much fun,” wrote another.
The show tonight was great!! Pat is so much fun! said another fan of the show.