In 2021, celebrity guest judges on “Jeopardy!” have been filing in for Alex Trebek ever since the beloved host died last November.
The famous game show has brought on substitute hosts, including Katie Couric, Ken Jennings, and more, to play quizmaster.
According to the Daily News, the recent announcement that celebrity Dr. Oz would be taking over the game has incensed former contestants as well as fans.
More than 500 former contestants and fans of “Jeopardy!” have signed a petition protesting the doctor and TV personality's stint as guest host on the show.
“Dr. Oz stands in opposition to everything that Jeopardy! stands for,” reads the public letter, initially published in late February on Medium.
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“Throughout his nearly two decades on television he has used his authority as a doctor to push harmful ideas onto the American public, in stark contrast with his oath to first do no harm.”
The petition called out the doctor for his stance on supplements, “dangerous” autism “cures,” and the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19.
“None of these things is backed by any scientific fact and by promoting them he is actively putting his viewers in danger...And what kind of message does this send to the LGBTQ+ and autistic contestants and viewers of ‘Jeopardy!?’” the letter reads.
Reps for Oz have not released a statement.
Dr. Oz began hosting the show on March 22, following Ken Jennings, executive producer Mike Richards and Katie Couric. Also on the schedule are Aaron Rodgers, Anderson Cooper, Savannah Guthrie, Mayim Bialik, Bill Whitaker and Sanjay Gupta.
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