Fans of “Jeopardy!” have called out the famous game show for a clue and response some deemed offensive, which appeared on Monday night's episode.
Viewers took to social media to voice complaints about the clue, which was under the category “Plain-Named Maladies” and read by host Savannah Guthrie.
“Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is also known as Grinch syndrome because this organ is too small,” Guthrie read.
The response to the clue was: “What is the heart?”
According to myheart.net, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, also known as POTS, is a condition that affects the flow of blood through a human’s body. A person with POTS can experience dizziness when standing. This mainly occurs in younger women. Common symptoms include elevated heart rate, extreme fatigue and lightheadedness. There has been an increased number POTS diagnoses in patients who have contracted COVID-19.
“Jeopardy!” writers used the term “Grinch syndrome” because it is associated with having a smaller than average heart, and some social media users thought it was offensive and wrong.
One viewer called it "shameful."
"I have POTs and am sad you would resort to this. How low," she wrote. "Would you seriously tell a kid he has a condition that makes him Grinch?! I just...can't believe this."
Another fan commented, “Why, Jeopardy, why?”
This isn’t the first time fans were quick to fact check the popular show.
Related
In December 2019, astute viewers said a question in the final round could have had two accurate answers because of the way it was presented.
The question: “The first words spoken in this 1970 Best Picture Oscar winner are ‘Ten-hut’! Be seated.”
The show said the correct response was “What is Patton?” However, some fans argued that the correct answer was “What is Midnight Cowboy,” which won the 1970 Academy Award for Best Picture. “Patton,” which was released in 1970, won the 1971 Academy Award for Best Picture.
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