Ken Jennings was reportedly not chosen as the next host of Jeopardy! due to old offensive tweets. As it stands, Jennings, who holds the record for the longest winning streak on Jeopardy!, won over $2.5 million in his original 74-game run in 2004. In 2020, Jennings returned to the Jeopardy! stage to participate in the Greatest of All Time tournament and emerged the victor. Earlier this year, Jennings kicked off the roster of guest hosts, which included Dr. Oz, Mayim Bialik, and LeVar Burton, after Alex Trebek’s final episodes aired.
Recently, Jeopardy! revealed that executive producer, Mike Richards, would be the new permanent host, and Bialik would host prime-time specials of the trivia game show. Shortly after Richards was named Trebek’s successor, a string of controversies arose, and Richards stepped down as host nine days after being selected. With the coveted position still unfilled, Jeopardy! announced that Bialik will now be the temporary host of Jeopardy! as the team continues to sift through options. Now, it has been revealed why Jennings wasn't selected in the first place.
Per Wall Street Journal, Jennings was not chosen as Jeopardy! host due to old offensive tweets. Posted in 2014, Jennings’ tweet read, “Nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair.” After the post resurfaced last year, Jennings issued an apology on the heels of his guest hosting debut. Reportedly, the backlash Jennings received gave “pause” to Jeopardy! executives, who had considered him the ideal candidate. Furthermore, focus groups didn’t react well to Jennings after the tweet came to light and further eliminated Jennings’ chance to become the next Jeopardy! host.
Of course, Jennings has been part of the show’s family for over 15 years and was a prime candidate to take over the Jeopardy! hosting duties. Indeed, Trebek and Jennings appeared to form a strong bond over the years. After arriving at the Jeopardy! studios to begin his first taping, Jennings was gifted with a pair of Trebek’s cufflinks and a note from Trebek’s wife, Jean. However, it seems Jennings’ time behind the podium has already been served.
For now, it appears that Jeopardy! would benefit from putting Burton back on the list of potentials for the next host. Although his stint as guest host didn’t fare well in ratings, Burton fans have made a strong case that the actor should take over for Trebek. Over the course of his formidable career, Burton has long resonated with his audience for being an excellent role model and entertaining figure. As it stands, Jennings will always be an important part of the history of Jeopardy! and could continue to work behind the scenes of the show.
Source: WSJ