‘Wheel of Fortune’ stirs controversy as player wins despite ‘wrong’ answer

Wheel of Fortune fans were left confused after Friday’s (January 10) episode when a contestant was awarded a correct puzzle solution despite adding extra words to their answer.

The participant in question was Kiana Moreland, a recent college graduate from Grand Terrace, California. During the Express round, under the “Living Things” category, Moreland attempted to solve a puzzle that read: “AARDVARKS / AND / AN _ E _ _ _ E S.”

When she gave the answer she said, “Are they aardvarks and antelopes?” Host Ryan Seacrest paused for a moment before declaring that Moreland’s answer was correct, despite her adding “Is it?” to the beginning of her answer.

After the episode, a user is off Wheel of Fortune Reddit forum brought up the controversial ruling, writing: “So on Friday 10th January 2025 a contestant won a puzzle but she said: ‘Is it ‘Aardvarks and Antelopes’?”. I was pretty sure the judges would judge her answer wrong, but after Ryan’s longer-than-usual pause, he announced that she was right!

“What?! I thought the whole ‘adding extra words’ thing was universal to all puzzles,” the user continued, before sarcastically adding, “This was an injustice the world has never seen before!!”

Other commenters discussed the ruling, with one person replying, “I think it’s because they hadn’t started saying the actual puzzle yet. Like, adding “and” to a crossword is invalid because it’s in the middle of the answer .Saying “Is it” before you solve is probably allowed, as you are not “adding to the puzzle”, you are just initiating your guess.

However, another recalled how a former contestant was wrongly judged for adding “This is how I feel right now” before replying: “I’m so excited.”

Others brought up an infamous moment where one contestant said “I am” before the answer “declares victory” and was wrongly judged, leaving him completely confused.

Another explained, “If the participant on their turn said “it’s aardvarks and antelopes” WITHOUT saying “I want to solve the puzzle” then I can see why that’s valid, but if they said “I want to solve”. Then they can’t say “is it” and they wouldn’t have it anyway.”

“A contestant was denied a puzzle win because the judges said he put the ‘A’ before saying ‘Frozen Concoction’ and then repeated himself and only said ‘frozen concoction’. He was disqualified,” the commenter continued. “I think he said “I want to solve”. The sad fact is that the lady after him only said “frozen concoction” and won the puzzle.

“It doesn’t happen often, but there is a provision in the rules that allows for something like this,” added another.

Another referred to the official rules from Wheel of Fortune Livewhich states: “In all cases, the judges will try to give the ‘benefit of the doubt’ to the contestant who solves the puzzle, taking into account speech disorders, regional dialects, nervous contestants and study conditions. Each case will be assessed individually and the judges’ decision will be final .”

“I have had the feeling that Wheel and Danger The judges have both been a little bit more lenient ever since their new hosts took over,” said another. “Just random timing I imagine. People like to see others win money, maybe they give people the benefit of the doubt.”

“I was waiting for Ryan to say: Sorry, that’s not correct, and especially when he hesitated for a few seconds before responding that it was a correct solution,” added another. “I think there is more banter between host and contestant and they feel more comfortable, but still a risky solution!”

Moreland went on to win the episode even though she failed to solve the bonus round puzzle, becoming the sixth contestant this season to miss out on the whopping $100,000 prize.

What did you think of the verdict? Should Seacrest have accepted the answer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.