‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Player Seemingly Gets Correct Answer But Still Loses $40,000 [Watch]
"Wheel of Fortune" viewers were left frustrated and upset after a contestant missed out on a $40,000 bonus prize despite potentially guessing the right answer.
During the final round of Tuesday's episode of the popular game show, Megan Carvale, a high school choir director from Placentia, California, needed to solve a two-word bonus puzzle under the category of "Living Thing."
The puzzle displayed on the board read "_ _N_" and "_R_ _ _ _."
As Carvale made her guesses, the puzzle evolved to "P_N_" and "_RC_ _D."
With 10 seconds on the clock, the player mumbled several guesses, including what sounded like "pink orchid" and "pony orchid."
The correct answer, "pink orchid," was revealed after the contestant's time ran out.
Host Pat Sajak and Vanna White did not consider Carvale's response valid, which meant she could not take home the $40,000 bonus prize.
"You might have been overthinking a type of orchid. I'm sorry that didn't work out for you," Sajak said.
The choir director ultimately won $14,007 and a vacation to Aruba in the episode.
Following the episode, some viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to slam "Wheel of Fortune," insisting Carvale said "pink orchid" and was robbed of the $40,000 prize.
"The woman got screwed on #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight; she totally said 'PINK ORCHID' right at the start," one viewer tweeted.
"There is no question, she absolutely said 'pink orchid,'" another viewer wrote. "Please give this girl her winnings!"
"I can't stop thinking about 'Wheel of Fortune.' I know she said 'Pink Orchid.' Was it just me that heard that? Yes? No? So weird. I swear she said it," a third person claimed.
There is no question, she absolutely said "pink orchid". Please give this girl her winnings! @WheelofFortune @PatOnWheel @TheVannaWhite @MaggieSajak #wheel #wheeloffortune #justiceforpinkorchid Rooting for you, Megan! pic.twitter.com/muiRlMCMLy
— ashley june (@ashleeeeeejune) January 31, 2024
But while some viewers claimed Carvale said "pink orchid," others believe her answer sounded more like "something orchid" or "think orchid."
This incident follows other controversies on the show where contestants lost due to mispronunciations and technicalities.
Earlier this month, some viewers criticized "Wheel of Fortune" after player Shauna Williams lost a round because she mispronounced one word in a puzzle she had already completed.
While Williams successfully solved the puzzle "congenial company & clever conversation," Sajak did not give her the earnings because she mispronounced the word "congenial" while reading the puzzle aloud.
No way this lady lost Wheel of Fortune with the entire puzzle solved 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/aO4A5UXbvv
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 4, 2024
In 2021, contestant David Pederson lost after he added "and" while listing the correct answer to a puzzle.
"Sole, flounder, cod, and catfish," Pederson answered, which the host ruled incorrect.
Another contestant got the earnings after listing the same fish but omitting "and."
Wheel of Fortune does not need to be like this#WheelOfFortune pic.twitter.com/EQ9E2R00dE
— slashkevin (@slashkevin) March 31, 2021
At the time, "Wheel of Fortune" fans slammed the decision, with one calling the "and" rule "draconian."
