Jeopardy! contestant Heather Ryan recently spoke out about a sexist clue she encountered on the show. During her appearance on the October 28 episode, she was given a clue in the “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category that began with “Men seldom making passes….” Ryan completed the sentence by answering with “girls who wear glasses.” Host Ken Jennings immediately apologized to her, recognizing the problematic nature of the clue and its implications.
Ryan, a health program director from Binghamton, New York, addressed the situation in an interview with Binghamton University’s student newspaper. She acknowledged the discomfort felt by everyone involved and expressed her hopes for more inclusive and thoughtful clues in the future. Ryan emphasized the importance of promoting vision health in young girls and the impact of stereotypes on their education.
During the episode, Ryan competed against Ian Taylor and Will Wallace, ultimately coming in second place, losing by just $1 in the Final Jeopardy round. Despite the awkward moment with the clue, she enjoyed her experience on the show and appreciated the welcoming atmosphere among the contestants and crew. Ryan’s journey to Jeopardy! began with an online quiz in early 2023, followed by an audition the same year, and ultimately filming her appearance in Los Angeles one year later.
The incident involving Ryan is just one in a series of gaffes on Jeopardy! over the years. Ken Jennings, a former contestant with the longest winning streak in the show’s history, also found himself at the center of controversy due to a risqué joke he made during his original run in 2004. Additionally, some of Jennings’ old tweets resurfaced just before his guest host stint on the show following Alex Trebek’s death in 2020, leading to further criticism. Jennings apologized for his past remarks and recognized the harm caused by his words, expressing regret for any offense taken by his comments.
