Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in January 2024.

Megan’s Disputed Win

Fans erupted after “Wheel of Fortune” seemingly denied contestant Megan a $40,000 prize for a correct answer. Megan, a married high school choir director from California, faced a two-word bonus puzzle under the category “Living Thing.”

As the wheel spun, host Pat Sajak revealed the partial phrase: “_ N ‘ R _ _ _.” Megan carefully selected letters, transforming the board to “P_N_’ ‘RC _ D.”

With just 10 seconds remaining, Megan blurted her final guess, sounding like “Pink Orchid.” The correct letters lit up the board as the timer buzzed, but Megan only received $14,007—far less than the $40,000 she might have earned.

Viewer Backlash

Audiences watching at home flooded social media with outrage. Many insisted Megan clearly said “Pink Orchid.”

• “The woman got screwed on #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight; she totally said ‘PINK ORCHID’ right at the start,” one viewer tweeted.

• “I asked the judges from the first thing she said!! I’m deaf in one ear and lip-read captions. She said ‘Pink Orchid’!! No question!!” another fan defended.

• “I am FUMING!! She got it; she said pink orchid! Wtf?!” added a third.

Fans urged the show to replay the episode and correct the error:

“Okay @WheelofFortune, replay the final puzzle. She said ‘pink orchid’ exactly. Credit the winner!”

Mounting Criticism

This controversy isn’t the first. Fans have recently questioned other show decisions, including a disputed rhyme during the Express round on Jan. 22.

In that episode, two contestants struggled, but Jill solved the puzzle by guessing two “y’s,” producing the answer “Absolutely Positively.” Fans argued the words don’t rhyme.

“Hey @WheelofFortune, care to explain how these two words rhyme? Because they absolutely positively DON’T,” tweeted one viewer.

The Fallout

With multiple complaints piling up, “Wheel of Fortune” faces growing scrutiny over its judging and prize decisions. Viewers argue that errors like Megan’s $40,000 misstep undermine fairness and transparency, leaving fans demanding accountability from the show.