A Wheel of Fortune contestant may have lost the game, but he won the hearts of the Internet.
A word puzzle in the “food and drink” category was being answered when the contestant botched the answer, much to the amusement of audience members.
The puzzle had six blank letters to spell NE_ _OR_ _HEESE_A_E.
Contestant Gaelyn responded confidently, blurting out, “New York cheese…steak.”
Unfortunately for Gaelyn, the answer, while still delicious, was New York Cheesecake.
Amused users took to social media to laugh at the unfortunate mistake.
‘Oh damn… So close…’ one user wrote.
‘Did this idiot really say New York Cheesesteak instead of Cheesecake?!? Oh my god,” another surprised user wrote.
Contestant Gaelyn confidently answered the riddle and blurted out: ‘New York cheese…steak.’
“An all-time horrible new answer on Wheel,” declared another.
Contestant Carmetta was more correct with her answer, correctly answering ‘New York Cheesecake’.
Carmelta won the game overall and told host Ryan Seacrest that the game was “What a blur.”
He ended up winning over $68,000 in cash and prizes, and Vanna had to assure him that his prizes were very real.
In December, Wheel of Fortune fans went wild when a contestant made a rather unfortunate mistake, just a month after another viral ‘solving error’.
Phil McManus of Palmer, Massachusetts, scored up to $9,800 on a three-word puzzle with the same letter, in which the first two words were completed: chocolates and chestnuts.
After purchasing the last vowel, I, the third word was shortened to CHI_NE_S.
He decided to solve ‘Chocolate Chestnuts and Chickens’, but Phil was quick to reveal that this was incorrect.
Unfortunately for Gaelyn, the answer, although delicious, was New York Cheesecake.
Funny users took to social media to laugh at the unfortunate mistake.
The next contestant, Matt Komma of Riverton, Utah, solved it immediately, with the correct answer: ‘Chocolates, chestnuts and chimneys.’
Wheel of Fortune fans were quick to respond on social media, criticizing Phil for the resolution error, including @WheelRob10.
She shared a screenshot of Phil’s mistake and added: “That was my shopping list last weekend.” #WheelofFortune.’
Another user, @CouplaColdies, shared a video of the incorrect answer and added: ‘Christmas-themed episode of Wheel of Fortune!
“And this was the contestant’s assumption.”
“I love Wheel of Fortune, but where do these contestants come from? #chickens #wheeloffortune,” the fan added.