On Tuesday, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak jokingly put a contestant named Fred Jackson in a chokehold after he played a perfect game. The incident took place after Jackson told Sajak that he’s a professional wrestler who does the sport “for fun.” Jackson is also a drama teacher and bar trivia host.
In a clip posted on the game show’s Instagram, Jackson solves the puzzle phrase “His mind is wandering” for an additional $40,000 — making his grand total $75,800. Jackson is overcome with emotion from his massive win, hugs someone else onstage, and then is tackled by the 76-year-old host.
The incident has since been met with mixed reactions from fans of the show, with some finding it entertaining while others calling it “cringey.”
The Post reached out to Sajak for comment but he did not respond. This is not the first time the host has made contestants feel uncomfortable on the show. In a recent episode, Sajak made fun of a person’s fear of fish by bringing out a toy swimmer and handing it to another contestant.
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A week before that, Sajak found himself in another uncomfortable situation with fans when he pulled a man’s beard. Contestant Greg Weichert, from Florida, sported a big, bushy gray beard as he revealed that he’s been “helping out” Santa Claus for 25 years. He has a big, blended family of six children, 14 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Sajak then asked him if the kids still pulled on Santa’s beard, which Weichert confirmed, sharing that he has told kids to pull on his beard before so that he can prove himself as the “real” Santa Claus.
“If I come over there, can I tug on it?” Sajak asked, before proceeding to do just that. He gave the man’s beard a firm pull and then backed away.
“I’ve never done that, and I will never do it again,” the host joked afterward. Later in the episode, he apologized to the contestant, appearing to look “choked up.”
The incident was met with mixed reactions from fans of the show, with some finding it entertaining while others called it “cringey.”
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New York Times | New York Times
