Pat Sajak is being called out.
The 74-year-old Wheel of Fortune host received backlash following Monday’s episode (February 22) of the show after mocking a contestant’s speech impediment.
During the introductions, Pat mimicked contestant Chris Brimble’s speech impediment, who has a lisp. After he described what he does for a living, instead of saying “I see,” Pat said, “I thee.”
Few people laughed on-set in the moment, and social media largely did not appreciate the interaction.
Pat apologized for a separate interaction late last year. Find out what happened.
One star recently deleted their Twitter account due to social media backlash over a new project.
Click inside to see some of the reactions…
Backstage when Pat says "I thee" to the man with a lisp. pic.twitter.com/nIJnO9DstJ
— Franc Hize (@ThePretendian) February 23, 2021
Did @patsajak just mock one of the contestants?? @WheelofFortune @TMZ pic.twitter.com/brJIMEB4yh
— phil (@nicolegphil) February 23, 2021
Over these last 4yr more adults have been rude, entitled,w/no empathy. My Granddaughter stuttered very badly. After school she would cry fr being teased all day, but she refused to [email protected] It broke my heart, but her strength was admirable.Shame on you Sajak, words hurt badly
— duckmymuck (@duckmymuck) February 23, 2021
Thanks for making fun of people with a lisp on tonight’s show you arrogant overpaid jerk – Pat Sajak. Quit now. Maybe if you grew up with a speech impediment you’d understand. #WheelOfFortune #patsajak #speechimpediment #lisp #patsajaksucks
— mcsqueebage (@mcsqueebage) February 21, 2021
Yes, a short insecure man who steps on stools to change his height near contestants makes fun of a lisp on his national TV show.
Has any contestant ever turned and asked him how he grew from his short stature to be taller? That could be entertaining. pic.twitter.com/rgrLvHChgW
— Jeff Hajjar (@JeffHajjar) February 23, 2021
Yes, you clearly made a mistake. You made fun of a man with a lisp without giving it a thought first. Sometimes it just takes a mistake to realize it is time to move on. I cannot watch #WheelOfFortune anymore because I’d rather not look at you. A public apology is in order.
— Jonric Jones (@jonric_jones) February 23, 2021
As a person with a lisp, I was not offended by this. If Sajak did it repeatedly or in a tone intended to shame the contestant, then I would've taken issue. Society has become so uptight, so unable to laugh at itself, that people get offended just for the sake of being offended.
— David B (@hoyadave) February 23, 2021
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Originally published at http://www.justjared.com/2021/02/23/pat-sajak-faces-backlash-for-seemingly-mocking-contestants-lisp-on-wheel-of-fortune/ on .