‘Jeopardy!’ loser shamed for confusing Janet Jackson with Ariana Grande

May 01, 2020


Her name ain’t Ariana. It’s Miss Jackson, if you’re on ‘Jeopardy!’

A contestant on the weeknightly game show riled fans of both pop queens when he incorrectly answered a question on Wednesday night that included a live clip from the 2018 Billboard Music Awards.

Contestant Alwin Hui, of Washington DC, thought he had a clue when Trebek read, “As the recipient of the 2018 Icon Award, she took ‘control’ & took to the stage in her first live TV performance in nearly a decade.”

Then Trebek played a segment of the awards ceremony — with Janet Jackson reprising her legendary “Control” choreography 32 years after the song’s release.

But Alwin didn’t remember that. Instead, he asked, “Who is Ariana Grande?,” in a clip that’s now available on the show’s YouTube channel.

Trebek replied simply “no,” then contestant Sarah Jett Rayburn chimed in: “Who is Janet Jackson?”

The egregious pop culture gaffe left show viewers shocked and bewildered by Alwin’s ignorance.

“I just watched a guy named Alwin on Jeopardy! call Janet Jackson Ariana Grande. What world IS THIS?!?!? #Jeopardy,” asked one fan on Twitter.

“Absolutely unforgivable lmfao,” added another, complete with a Twitter video clip of muffled laughter.

For her part, Sarah, the obvious favorite, took home the big prize that night, plus two nights prior and again Thursday night, bringing her total up to $89,300. Her final game will air tonight before the show takes a production hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic.

Those who know the show could say that Trebek went pretty easy on Alwin. Earlier this week cringeworthy footage from one awkward exchange with a contestant resurfaced on Twitter, going viral four years after it aired. It shows the beloved gameshow host calling one player, Susan Cole, a “loser” after confessing her love for “nerd-core hip-hoo.”

Trebek said the genre was for “losers, in other words.”

Cole ultimately took home over $67,000 after a three game streak.

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