A recent episode of the popular game show “Wheel of Fortune” witnessed an unusual incident when contestant Tavaris Williams, from Port St. Lucie, Florida, gave an unexpected and somewhat risqué answer to a phrase puzzle. This unexpected response from Williams on May 23, 2024, left the host Pat Sajak, fellow contestants, and the audience surprised.
The phrase that Williams was attempting to solve presented the letters _ _ _ _ I _ T _ E B _ _ T!. However, instead of the correct answer, “This is the best!”, Williams confidently suggested “Right in the butt!” This response drew a collective gasp from the crowd, followed by a soft “No” from Sajak and a shocked reaction from co-contestant Tyra.
Williams, 42, later explained his unusual guess, stating that the excitement of the game made him lose common sense. “I was just trying to beat my competitors by buzzing in first, and my brain couldn’t catch up to what I was saying,” he admitted.
Regardless of the error, Williams remained upbeat. In a subsequent interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” he revealed that Sajak had assured him they would find a suitable way to handle the situation, even though it was unclear at the time how that would be achieved.
Williams’ blunder quickly gained attention on the internet, with many expressing surprise at his unusual guess given the displayed letters. During a viewing party for the episode, Williams disclosed that he had kept the incident a secret from his family until it was broadcast. His family took the incident in stride, laughing about it.
As a light-hearted continuation of the incident, Jimmy Kimmel presented Williams with a new puzzle, “ALL HANDS ON D_CK,” which he correctly solved as “All hands on deck.” Williams also shared with Kimmel that he had won $9,500 on the show, a fact that was overlooked by many due to the viral clip.
While Williams’ response will go down as one of the most memorable moments in the show’s history, host Pat Sajak, who is in his last season, has witnessed many such instances in his 40-year tenure. Sajak commented during Williams’ interview that he had made a lasting impression.
Looking forward, Ryan Seacrest is poised to take over the hosting duties of “Wheel of Fortune.” Seacrest expressed his excitement for the new role and admiration for co-host Vanna White in an interview with E! News. Fans are eager to see how Seacrest will bring his unique charm to the show while honoring the legacy of Sajak and White.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Williams maintains that his optimistic attitude and ability to laugh at himself were the qualities that got him on the show. His unusual response has since been widely shared on social media, being considered one of the most memorable wrong answers in “Wheel of Fortune” history.
