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'Jeopardy!' Apologizes After Clue Including Problematic Term For Medical Condition Sparks Outrage
It's not often the popular quiz show Jeopardy! is the subject of controversy for their questions and answers.
But Savannah Guthrie, the current guest host of the show, read a clue that included an ableist, inaccurate and outdated term for a medical condition.
The clue read:
"Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is also known as Grinch Syndrome because this organ is too small."
The Grinch's heart, according to the popular book and films, is "three sizes too small."
But Guthrie and the producers of Jeopardy! soon found out there was some major controversy surrounding referring to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) as "Grinch Syndrome."
@Jeopardy @BoweryMission @SavannahGuthrie This question about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome tonight is… https://t.co/0585i6Cwmk— MandaPanda (@MandaPanda) 1624322608.0
Hey @Jeopardy no one with any credibility calls POTS "Grinch Syndrome." Promoting outdated misogynistic terms to de… https://t.co/M9E6Rjmh4Z— Dysautonomia Intl. (@Dysautonomia Intl.) 1624322840.0
@Jeopardy This appeared on Jeopardy tonight. Grinch syndrome is an offensive term. Can you imagine Jeopardy making… https://t.co/dgT2PYPh6Y— Dysautonomia Intl. (@Dysautonomia Intl.) 1624323248.0
@Dysautonomia @Jeopardy Dear @Jeopardy -I am a 25 yr experienced RN with POTS syndrome. I am disappointed and, fran… https://t.co/tN4yjGEeCk— Morgan Gregory📚🇨🇦 (@Morgan Gregory📚🇨🇦) 1624386220.0
@jessica_pyper @Dysautonomia @Jeopardy It’s really not. From what I’m seeing it was coined from a skewed study with… https://t.co/acHnCmGA1C— disablednerd 🌈 (@disablednerd 🌈) 1624369014.0
POTS "occurs mostly in younger women, and also includes elevated heart rate, extreme fatigue and lightheadedness as other common symptoms," according to Yahoo! .
It is not currently associated with heart size and has recently been triggered in several patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
@Dysautonomia @Jeopardy FYI if you are wondering where “Grinch syndrome” comes from It was coined by Levine and co… https://t.co/HWnPPNWKAs— Cyrus (@Cyrus) 1624337716.0
@Dysautonomia @Jeopardy I’ve lived with POTS for almost 20 years and have never heard of it being called grinch syn… https://t.co/TR37xBHFoR— Mito Girl (@Mito Girl) 1624337117.0
@Dysautonomia @Jeopardy Lol, it's not so much offensive as just silly. Nobody calls it that because POTS is nothing… https://t.co/LHvTqe6fpG— Correctrix procrastinans (@Correctrix procrastinans) 1624375833.0
@Dysautonomia @tee_spoonie @Jeopardy I've literally Never heard it called that Wtaf I have a close friend with POTS… https://t.co/GR8gLEIZX3— Taylor ✨ (@Taylor ✨) 1624323426.0
@Dysautonomia @DisVisibility @Jeopardy Also wtf pretty sure my POTS is not caused by having an abnormally small hea… https://t.co/qMghg7Xdwm— MB (@MB) 1624361900.0
Following the backlash, Jeopardy! issued an apology over their social media.
They wrote:
"Yesterday's program included a clue about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)."
"After hearing from the community, we found we used an outdated and inaccurate term for this disorder, and we apologize."
Yesterday’s program included a clue about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). After hearing from the… https://t.co/9GlPhZoGT9— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy!) 1624388709.0
@Jeopardy Thank you for the apology. However, we still don't have an explanation as to how this term made it to air… https://t.co/h5okuZX0Je— Lillie Lainoff (@Lillie Lainoff) 1624389525.0
@Jeopardy Thank you @Jeopardy. We accept your apology and appreciate that you were willing to listen to our patient… https://t.co/8rNhNWdVmu— Dysautonomia Intl. (@Dysautonomia Intl.) 1624390679.0
@Jeopardy Would also love an acknowledgement/correction of the fact that the whole small heart thing is blatantly *… https://t.co/0b7ylKksC5— devon (@devon) 1624397553.0
@Jeopardy 2/3 With POTS being a lesser known condition (especially when I was diagnosed, before ovid), this may be… https://t.co/kyTJ66yEUP— Laura A (@Laura A) 1624399783.0
For more information on POTS, Dysautonomia International's page contains history, causes and classifications of the condition.