Wheel of Fortune is facing backlash after a contestant missed out on a $100,000 jackpot thanks to what frustrated viewers are blasting as an “unfair” puzzle. Fans quickly jumped on social media to vent, with many describing it as “the toughest puzzle ever” — and some flat-out calling it “impossible.”
Contestant’s night takes a turn
The frustration unfolded during the Friday, May 2 episode, closing out a week where not a single Bonus Round contestant walked away victorious. On that night, the spotlight was on Kristyn Hobbs of Fort Cobb Lake, Oklahoma. Competing alongside Annelorrie Brown of Illinois and David Fisch of New York, Hobbs impressed early. She shared with the audience that her husband had just built her a greenhouse, where she planted more than 1,500 seedlings.
She nailed the first two toss-ups to earn $2,000, but the first main puzzle turned out to be a rough start for all three players. All three players hit Bankrupt. Brown nearly solved it but missed the final letter, leaving Fisch to swoop in for the $1,000 prize.
The next round played out similarly. Fisch carried the puzzle most of the way, but a wrong letter gave Hobbs the opening she needed to solve: “I want to hold your hand-me-downs.” From there, momentum started shifting in her favor.
Building momentum
Hobbs landed a Wild Card and later solved “Exploring the Jungle” — earning herself a trip to Peru and bringing her total to $14,000. By the end of regular play, she had $18,000 plus her prize trip, enough to advance to the Bonus Round.
She walked in with her sister and a close friend rooting for her from the sidelines. After spinning, she landed on the ampersand and chose the category “What are you doing?” With the usual letters plus her picks of G, C, H, and I, the board revealed:
R_ _ _ _GING IN THE _ C _ R
As the seconds ticked away, Hobbs couldn’t piece it together. Host Ryan Seacrest revealed the answer — “Rummaging in the Backyard.” Inside the envelope? A life-changing $100,000. Hobbs dropped her head into her hands, stunned with disbelief.
Fans erupt online.
The reaction online was swift and harsh. Viewers called the phrase “unrealistic” and “unwinnable.” One YouTube commenter blasted the show: “The writers who created that ridiculous puzzle are responsible. Nobody says ‘rummaging in the backyard.’”
Another simply declared, “No one rummages in the backyard!!!” Dozens more agreed, calling it one of the hardest and most unfair bonus puzzles in recent memory.
For Hobbs, it was heartbreak. For fans, it was outrage. And for Wheel of Fortune, the debate rages on.https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/YcuotRqUCtU?enablejsapi=1