“Danger!” contestant who received an apology during the show a “problematic” clue responded to the flap.

The clue in question came from a famous quote by Dorothy Parker: “Guys rarely make a pass at girls who wear glasses.” Contestants were asked to complete the second part of the saying for the rhyming expression category.

Heather Ryan, a bespectacled health administrator from upstate New York, said the Oct. 28 tip made people uncomfortable.

“It’s definitely an odd choice,” Ryan told the Binghamton University newspaper. Pipe Dream. “I think it made everyone in the audience and on stage a little uncomfortable, and (host) Ken Jennings, too. It was like, ‘Oh, that was unexpected.’ ”

When game design director Will Wallace correctly completed the quote, Jennings immediately called the answer “a little problematic” and turned to Ryan and said, “I’m sorry, Heather.”

Some “Danger!” viewers had problems with the appearance of the series, branding this as sexist in online discourse. Pronunciation – believed to be a joke About Parker’s situation own romantic foibles – used at least a dozen times in the show since 1985, according to the fan-powered program J! archive. It had been unused for over a decade before appearing in Ryan’s episode.

“Maybe in 2024 we’ll pick better rhyming phrases,” Ryan said Monday. “Unfortunately, there are still girls going to secondary school who do not want to wear their glasses and lose their education. So I think being able to see is better than anything else.”

He lost to Cleveland food sales representative Ian Taylor, director of the Broome County Health Department, and placed second after falling short by $1 in Final Jeopardy. Wallace, who had a four-day winning streak, finished third. Despite the headline-making tip and loss, Ryan spoke fondly of his “fun” run on the show and said everyone there was so welcoming. He also kept in touch with his fellow contestants.

“It’s a very special thing to play a small part in this big role,” he said. “It’s been around for 40 years, so I have to do my part in that.”

Ryan’s episode aired days after two former Sony Pictures Entertainment employees filed a lawsuit. gender and racial discrimination complaints “To danger!” against and “Wheel of Fortune”. In response to the complaints, the game’s parent company said the new leadership team across the programs was “committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect” and that Sony “takes all allegations of discrimination very seriously.”

“Jeopardy!” His representatives declined to comment Thursday.