Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak told a guest on the show the personal story the competitor had just shared with viewers was the “most pointless story ever told.”
Sajak's snarkiness on the show is not a revelation, but it was a jarring pivot from his display of empathy towards the previous week's contestants who were ridiculed by trolls for failing to solve what audiences thought was an easy puzzle.
Sajak ended his series of posts by telling fans to "have a little heart."
A contestant on #WheelOfFortune was telling a story. When he finished. Pat said to him... That may Have been the most pointless story ever told. When did #Patsajak get so cold-blooded? pic.twitter.com/37QDH4ukbA— Boomba (@Boomba) 1646872540
However, he failed to heed his own advice when interacting with contestant Scott Ingwersen on Wednesday's show.
While glancing at the contestant's bio, Sajak was confused about a talking point on the card.
He asked Ingwersen:
"Why am I mentioning this? It’s on your card. You had your big toe chopped off. Why are you telling this?”
Ingwersen explained the significance of his misfortune.
“It’s important to know that when I was 12 years old, I was riding a 10-speed bike with flip-flops, and I fell and completely cut off the top of my toe."
"The next car that came by were two paramedics that were on their way to their job, and they said, ‘It’s just a laceration.’ But I didn’t know what that was, so it freaked me out even more."
"And my toe is reattached, and I just want to say thank you to them 30 years later.”
There was hesitant laughter and some sympathetic applause from the audience following his story, but Sajak was unimpressed and made no attempts to hide what he really thought.
“That may have been the most pointless story ever told. And you told it, Scott,” he told Ingerwersen. “Congratulations to you.”
Poor Scott just wanted to tell his story. Pat just throwing the shade #WheelOfFortune #patsajakpic.twitter.com/0wkEL2aRan— AyeRaeRae43 (@AyeRaeRae43) 1646871010
Some Twitter users didn't take kindly to Sajak's insensitivity, and they called out his hypocrisy after urging viewers to be kinder to contestants.
So @patsajak got on his @WheelofFortune high horse a week ago & lectured everyone to be nice to contestants who couldn\u2019t solve an easy puzzle, but tonight he had no problem belittling and insulting a contestant who told their intro story. Scott needs an apology. #WheelOfFortune— ABT20 (@ABT20) 1646872466
So @patsajak got on his @WheelofFortune high horse a week ago & lectured everyone to be nice to contestants who couldn\u2019t solve an easy puzzle, but tonight he had no problem belittling and insulting a contestant who told their intro story. Scott needs an apology. #WheelOfFortune— ABT20 (@ABT20) 1646872466
In all the years of watching this show, I have never seen #PatSajak talk to contestants like this. Is he on his period this week or what? Jeez. Poor Scott.— Nor_Cal_Girl_91 (@Nor_Cal_Girl_91) 1646924040
With these more frequent outbursts, it seems obvious that Sajak hates his job but apparently needs the income. He needs to bounce before he goes postal!pic.twitter.com/f6cwj4BOgj— Debski (@Debski) 1646966589
is anyone else watching #WheelofFortune??? Pat Sajak is such an asshole who says to someone \u201cthat\u2019s the most pointless story ever\u201d when someone is opening up on National TV???— mads (@mads) 1646871087
Be careful Pat,people are starting to notice you and your bad habit,the wheels might be starting to come off. At your age,it won\u2019t be hard to get you fired. People might stop watching the show,even with it\u2019s popularity. Nothing lasts forever in this world.— Enrique Hinojosa (@Enrique Hinojosa) 1646927792
#WheelOfFortune Sometimes Pat says really mean things to contestants, but this was the worst. A man thanking paramedics for giving him his big toe back, an important toe for balance, is not a pointless story. It\u2019s touching that he still feels gratitude for them and took the time.— Nat (@Nat) 1646872504
I was so surprised and felt so badly for that contestant! How could Pat say that! Awful!— Rachel1790 (@Rachel1790) 1646974772
Some fans, however, defended Sajak and suggested viewers of the show lighten up.
OMG! Pat has been doing this job and well for many years. Let's not be so harsh on some of his remarks. Do you expect him to be a robot up there? He is human remember. And personally, I for one did not appreciate hearing the toe story, gross. And 30 years ago?— Marlynn Hock (@Marlynn Hock) 1646922344
Pat was being funny , not sarcastic ! If you watched the show regularly you would know that !— robert barnable (@robert barnable) 1646934641
He's always a bit sarcastic but he's usually funny. Stop being so sensitive. That's why the world is in the shape it's in. Sensitivity and political correctness. He's doing this a long time so he must be doing something right. Either enjoy the show or don't watch!— LOU (@LOU) 1646967190
So tired of people taking things the wrong way. No one can take a joke anymore. Pat happens to have a dry sence of humor. He would never want to degrade anyone. So everyone just get over it. There are a lot more thinks to worry about.— THERESA KAUPKE (@THERESA KAUPKE) 1646962891
Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights on ABC at 7:30 Eastern Time and 6:30 Central Time.