Ken Jennings Offends Viewers with Comment on “Jeopardy!” Episode
By Emily Trainham, Fox News
Published Nov. 10, 2023, 1:58 p.m. ET
Former “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings is facing backlash after making a remark about people in assisted living facilities during a recent episode of the popular game show. On last night’s episode, Jennings made a comment that offended some viewers, leading to criticism on social media.
During the interview portion of the game show, Jennings spoke with contestant Jen Jazwinski, who talked about her grandmother and how important she was to her. Jazwinski mentioned that when she previously appeared on the show, her grandmother’s fellow residents in the assisted living facility gave her a standing ovation. In response, Jennings made a comment about the challenges of standing up for the elderly residents in assisted living.
The remark did not sit well with some viewers, who took to social media to express their disappointment in Jennings’ comment. Many tagged the official “Jeopardy!” account on Twitter to voice their grievances.
This is not the first time Jennings has faced controversy over his remarks. In a resurfaced tweet from 2014, he made an insensitive comment about people in wheelchairs. The incident resurfaced in 2018 and again in 2020 when he was announced as an interim host following the death of Alex Trebek.
In response to the recent backlash, a representative for Jennings did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Jennings has previously issued apologies for past controversial remarks, acknowledging that his comments were insensitive and apologizing to those who were offended.
It remains to be seen how “Jeopardy!” or Jennings himself will respond to the current controversy. Despite the backlash, it’s clear that Jennings’ comments have once again sparked a conversation about the importance of using careful and considerate language, especially on a public platform.