‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans React To Player’s Texas Gaffe

Wheel of Fortune fans were divided after one contestant was awarded a win despite mispronouncing a word in the answer.

Alicia Slagle from Red Wing, Minnesota, who works as a school nurse by day and fitness instructor by night, competed on Wednesday’s show against two other contestants. In round one of the game, she had the opportunity to solve the clue, which was “on the map,” and the answer was “Dallas, Houston, and Lubbock, Texas.”

While Slagle guessed correctly, people watching at home were unhappy with how she pronounced ‘Lubbock’ and were divided as to whether she should have been awarded the win because of it. Lubbock is the 10th most-populated city in the state of Texas and sits about 79 miles from the southeast border of New Mexico.

“I am so glad that they accepted her answer even though she pronounced Lubbock incorrectly and glad that Ryan Seacrest said it correctly,” wrote @SheilaIND on X, formerly Twitter.

“It’s Lubbock not Loobock! #wheeloffortune,” commented @bryanmardis.

“Lue-Bock vs. Lubbock. Who pronounces it which way? Let yourselves be known,” posted @VIGOCHAofficial.

And @ElRocco337 added: “I would not have accepted that mangling of Lubbock, Wheel of Fortune.”

Slagle went on to win the entire game, but missed out on the $40,000 prize in the bonus round.

A similar debate over pronunciation occurred during Monday’s episode of the popular game show.

Wheel of Fortune host, Ryan Seacrest, accepted the answer “expresso martini” from the contestant when the puzzle answer on the board was “espresso Martini.” Allowing that pronunciation then granted the contestant a win on the day, beating his closest competitor by just $100.

“He really did not win. Seacrest is an idiot. Kenneth pronounced espresso incorrectly. Took a win away from someone else. He pronounced it Expresso. Instead of Espresso. They should have beeped it wrong. Travesty,” @TekavecJiim wrote on X at the time.

Seacrest took over hosting duties this year from longtime Wheel of Fortune star, Pat Sajak, who was at the helm of the show for more than 40 years.

Sajak, who will be back at the wheel one last time when he hosts Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in 2025, waded into the discussion about the presidential election before people headed to the polls on Tuesday.

“I have never endorsed a presidential candidate. However, I am breaking with that tradition this year. I will make my announcement this coming Friday at noon,” Sajak joked in a post on X on Monday, November 4.

Republican Donald Trump won Tuesday’s election after a decisive victory against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.