Current:Home > reviewsDid 'Wheel of Fortune' player get cheated out of $40,000? Contestant reveals what she said -Visionary Growth Labs
Did 'Wheel of Fortune' player get cheated out of $40,000? Contestant reveals what she said
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 10:43:42
She'd like to solve the mystery.
Some "Wheel of Fortune" fans became convinced this week that a player was cheated out of $40,000 after being ruled incorrect despite giving the right answer during the bonus round. Now, the contestant herself has weighed in.
The category in the bonus round was "living thing," but contestant Megan Carvale didn't quite come up with the answer, "pink orchid," in time. Or did she?
In what quickly became the game show equivalent of "the dress" debate, some viewers argued that Carvale did say "pink orchid" as her first guess, yet she was not ruled correct. She proceeded to wrongly guess "pony orchid" just before time ran out. "You might have been overthinking thinking of a type of orchid," host Pat Sajak suggested. Had she given the right answer, Carvale would have won $40,000.
"I'm sorry, did she NOT say Pink Orchid the first time? Or am I tripping," one user on X, formerly Twitter, asked.
"There is no question, she absolutely said 'pink orchid,'" another fan wrote. "Please give this girl her winnings!"
Others argued that Carvale said "something orchid," not "pink orchid." So Carvale appeared Thursday on "Good Morning America" to put the debate to rest and reveal what she really said.
"You know, I wish I said pink, because I would have been $40,000 richer," she said. "But I said 'something.'"
This came as a surprise to "Good Morning America" hosts Michael Strahan and Robin Roberts, both of whom thought Carvale said pink after watching the clip.
Pat Sajakstunned by 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant's retirement poem: 'I'm leaving?'
The debate could have something to do with the volume at which fans watched the original segment. Prior to Carvale's explanation, when the clip was uploaded to YouTube, many commenters agreed she said "something."
"On low volume it sounds like pink orchid but on high volume it's definitely 'something orchid,'" one YouTube comment said, while others pointed out that Carvale likely would have objected in the moment had she given the right answer.
New 'Wheel of Fortune' hostRyan Seacrest worries about matching Pat Sajak's quickness
Carvale admitted on "GMA" she was "so bummed" to have not won the bonus round, and the viral debate over her answer forced her to relive the loss. But despite not taking home the $40,000 bonus prize, Carvale still won $14,007 and a trip to Aruba on the show, and she found another way to see the bright side of the situation.
"You know what, at least it's positive attention," she told "GMA." "It could have been people making fun of me that I didn't get it right."
veryGood! (24)
Related
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Sudan suspends ties with east African bloc for inviting paramilitary leader to summit
- US, South Korea and Japan conduct naval drills as tensions deepen with North Korea
- The Integration of EIF Tokens in the Financial Sector
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Here are 10 memorable moments from the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards
- Fake White House fire report is latest high-profile swatting attempt: What to know
- Modi’s promised Ram temple is set to open and resonate with Hindus ahead of India’s election
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Ukraine needs money from the US and Europe to keep its economy running. Will the aid come?
Ranking
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Mikaela Shiffrin scores emotional victory in slalom race for 94th World Cup skiing win
- Eagles center Jason Kelce set to retire after 13 NFL seasons, per multiple reports
- Utah Legislature to revise social media limits for youth as it navigates multiple lawsuits
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Italy’s regulations on charities keep migrant rescue ships from the Mediterranean
- Biden administration asks Supreme Court to intervene in its dispute with Texas over border land
- St. John’s coach Rick Pitino is sidelined by COVID-19 for game against Seton Hall
Recommendation
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
Supporters of former Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe launch widespread protests
Matthew Stafford's wife Kelly says her children cried when Lions fans booed her and husband
An investigation is underway after police raided the wrong Ohio house, sending baby to ICU
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
Apple plans to remove sensor from some watch models depending on how a court rules in patent dispute
Iowa caucus turnout for 2024 and how it compares to previous years
A timeline of the investigation of the Gilgo Beach killings