Pat Sajak Defends 'Wheel Of Fortune' Contestants After Online Ridicule: 'Have A Little Heart'

The woman on Wheel of Fortune got not one but TWO chances to solve this. First time, she said \u201c\u2026in your LAP.\u201d Second time, she said \u201cMAP.\u201d \n\nI am in utter disbelief. #WheelOfFortunepic.twitter.com/MtM3qD7pj6

— Blake Oestriecher (@Blake Oestriecher) 1646181891

It always pains me when nice people come on our show to play a game and win some money and maybe fulfill a lifelong dream, and are then subject to online ridicule when they make a mistake or something goes awry.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236554

The first attempted solve was \u201cFeather in your hat\u201d which, by the way, is how a lot of people say it. So all three players thought it was a good solve, and were stunned when I said it was wrong.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236555

Now imagine you\u2019re on national TV, and you\u2019re suddenly thrown a curve and you begin getting worried about looking stupid, and if the feather isn\u2019t in your hat, where the heck can it be? You start flailing away looking for alternatives rather than synonyms for \u201chat.\u201d

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236555

And, of course, when it\u2019s solved, you want to crawl in a hole. I\u2019ve been praised online for \u201ckeeping it together\u201d and not making fun of the players. Truth is, all I want to do is help to get them through it and convince them that those things happen even to very bright people.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236555

But mocking them online and calling them names? These are good people in a bad situation under a kind of stress that you can\u2019t begin to appreciate from the comfort of your couch.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236556

Good-natured laughter is one thing. Heck, they laughed at themselves. But, hey, cut them some slack. Unless you\u2019re there, you have no idea how different it is in the studio.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236556

I have fun with players and I tease them occasionally, but when things go wrong, I feel for them, and I try to salve the wounds on camera and off. So, yeah, it was an oddly entertaining puzzle and it\u2019s okay to laugh at the situation. But have a little heart.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236556

After all, you may be there one day. And no one wants to be trending on Twitter.

— Pat Sajak (@Pat Sajak) 1646236556

I remember you when you did weather for KNBC and have always admired you for your gracious and self-effacing demeanor. Your thread should be read by every keyboard warrior who is quick to pounce on the misfortune of others. Classy response.

— Ron Mann (@Ron Mann) 1646251798

This is a great point, when you said it\u2019s not hat their brain thought \u201cit\u2019s feather somewhere other than on something that\u2019s on your head\u201d it\u2019s a mistake anyone can make in the heat of the moment.

— The Goat (@The Goat) 1646270942

People sitting at home believe they are perfect and love to belittle others. God forbid someone makes a mistake, they pounce.

— Andrea (@Andrea) 1646281501

Thank you Pat. This shows people when not in a stressful situation think differently. That poor lady had so much STRESS on her shoulders, I hope she is ok. \nThanks for being awesome @PatOnWheel

— Orlando Ribbons SAY GAY\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Orlando Ribbons SAY GAY\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1646270326

Kudos for your defense. Ashamed of twitter bashing that took place. We laughed, but recognize unless your in their shoes, no judgements.

— Martha Ford (@Martha Ford) 1646321542

Hey if you make it on the show \nYou are a better player than most!

— jkdjkd (@jkdjkd) 1646264883

What a really, really nice thing to do/say, Pat!! I hope your contestants feel totally supported\u2026. And the bad-mouthers are appropriately chastised!

— Darcy (@Darcy) 1646282275

Thank you so much for saying this.\n\nJeez, if you've NEVER HEARD a saying before, how cold you possible KNOW IT?\n\nPeople are mean jerks, and I'm glad you're standing up for the contestant. \n\n#HowCanYouKnowASayingYouveNeverHeard?

— Karen H \ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f (@Karen H \ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f) 1646353278

The only time I've even HEARD the expression "feather in your cap" is the audio book version of Men Are from Mars, Women are from Venus. It's not a very commonly used expression nowadays.

— Dave Edwards (@Dave Edwards) 1646271908

Sorry to see there is such nonsense...just to add that most of us grew up with feather in your hat ... as caps have no place to put a feather...and feathers are always on hats...

— Rosanna Cholak \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 (@Rosanna Cholak \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6) 1646279066

It is SO DIFFERENT having the lights and cameras and people watching your every move compared to just sitting at home.\nYour brain does not work the same way.\nSometimes the simplest, most obvious answers just don't come to you when you're under that kind of pressure.

— Stuart Duncan (@Stuart Duncan) 1646273161