‘Wheel of Fortune’ fans call for rule change after technicality costs contestant a win

“Wheel of Fortune” fans were up in arms after a contestant lost over a minor rule — using the word “and” while answering a clue. 

In order to solve the “crossword puzzle” challenge on the show, a contestant has to list the words that appear in a puzzle. On Thursday night’s episode, contestant Kristen Shaw correctly answered “Right, football, left and Sally.” 

But host Pat Sajak technically couldn’t accept the answer because she used the word “and” while listing the responses. Shaw lost $1,950 in cash and a trip to Nashville valued at more than $8,000.

{mosads}Sajak told Shaw, “Most times I caution people not to add anything, and you maybe didn’t even hear yourself say it but you threw an ‘and’ in there with the last thing and we have to go by the rules,” after her not-quite-right answer. 

Many fans of the show took to social media to defend Shaw and call on the “Wheel of Fortune”  to change the rule. 

They can easily change the rule to allow “and” as part of your verbal answer. Conjunctions are natural parts of speech an should be ok for crosswords. #WheelOfFortune

— Total D (#44) (@drewbreess) November 22, 2019

I was watching and I was amazed. That she didn’t get a “read it again” from Sajak , or “you still got time? #WheelOfFortune @WheelofFortune @krischinooks https://t.co/B5XLxE2Hym

— Leo Hinojosa (@EVAUTOSTEXAS) November 22, 2019

Utterly ridiculous that you didn’t give credit to Kristen for the ___ field puzzle because she said “and” before the last word of the list. Functionally no different from the pauses you allow. You know she knew the puzzle @WheelofFortune Not cool. #WheelOfFortune

— Dr. Porter-Stransky (@NeuroVixen) November 22, 2019

The ‘and’ rule is garbage. She deserved Nashville! #WheelOfFortune

— ⭐⭐Drone637 (@Drone637) November 22, 2019

Luckily, Shaw still went home with a $3,000 prize at the end of the show Thursday night, despite the controversial technicality.