‘Jeopardy!’ Champion Amy Schneider Fires Back at Twitter Trolls With Funny Tweet

Martin Holmes
9 Comments
Amy Schneider Jeopardy!
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Current Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider has snapped back at transphobic Twitter trolls with a humorous, tongue-in-cheek post.

The California-based engineering manager, who recently became the first transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions, ended 2021 on a 23-game winning streak, amassing $855,600 in winnings. However, despite this impressive feat, it hasn’t stopped some trolls from directing transphobic comments at her on social media.

On New Year’s Eve, Schneider fired back at her haters, tweeting, “I’d like to thank all the people who have taken the time, during this busy holiday season, to reach out and explain to me that, actually, I’m a man. Every single one of you is the first person ever to make that very clever point, which had never once before crossed my mind.”

Schneider’s tweet received praise from her fans, with many of them sharing their support for the reigning Jeopardy! champ. Former contestant Michael Vance wrote, “[As] the parent of a young trans woman (who did quiz bowl in HS & college), it’s been great to watch you. Congratulations on your streak and on having the grace to take the high road with these trolls and troglodytes!”

Actor Harvey Fierstein also took to social media to cheer on the contestant, gushing that he “couldn’t be prouder if she were my own daughter.”

Others thanked Schneider for how she led to families having open conversations about gender, helping shift perceptions of those ignorant towards or who didn’t understand trans issues.

“Somehow, after 2-3 years of conversation, you being on Jeopardy every night has taught my dad to be accepting of trans people,” wrote one viewer. “You’re the first person he’s used correct pronouns with, a 83 year old man, saying ‘this isn’t too hard.’ Thanks for your message of love.”

“Three generations of my family watch @Jeopardy together, and Amy’s run has done more to move my eightysomething parents into the realm of understanding and acceptance of trans people than anything ever,” added another fan.

Another viewer shared similar sentiments, tweeting, “You have actually helped shift my parents’ perception of womanhood and I couldn’t thank you more. You are such a brilliant queen and I could not enjoy your run on Jeopardy more. Thank you for being you and showing up and representing.”

All of the 'Jeopardy!' Records Amy Schneider Has Broken So Far
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All of the 'Jeopardy!' Records Amy Schneider Has Broken So Far

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  1. G

    GoldSubmarine

    I have zero problem with transgender people being who they are, with one caveat. There must be new rules preventing males who transition into females from competing in biological female athletic competitions. The differences in muscles and other body structure give them an unfair advantage. A male person who was just average athletically may transition into a superior female athlete. That's just wrong.

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    1. C

      CyanStrawberry

      The thing is, when someone born as a male transitions to female, they are given hormones that transition their body to female in ways that take away that advantage, so it's really unfair to block them. It's also unfair to block females (who were born females) who have a naturally high level of testosterone from competing with other women. Michael Phelps has a natural advantage because his hands and feet are larger and more powerful than some of his competitors, but he wasn't blocked. But Caster Semenya can't, unless she artificially lowers her testosterone level.

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      1. C

        CyanLamp

        Wrong. Their musculature and pelvic bones remain as they were and therein lies the difference.

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      2. R

        RedQuill

        "they are given hormones that transition their body to female in ways that take away that advantage" -- this is a blanket statement presuming all trans people make the same choices. Lots of transgender people do not invoke any medical / physical therapy or intervention at all. They just move forward with their new gender identification. It's very common for trans folks to dress/style themselves in more gender-traditional way to bolster the presentation of their gender identity, but rarer to undergo any actual physiological modification.

    2. O

      OrangeBus

      You know, I've heard a fair few people raise exactly the point you just did—about what might be called "transwoman superiority". The thing is, this is something which is eminently amenable to being confirmed or denied by real-world data!

      Specifically: There have been, over the past few decades, a number of athletic venues which allow all women, both trans- and cis-, to compete freely against each other. Now, *if* "transwoman superiority" actually was a thing, *then* transwomen should hold a disproportionately large percentage of all top honors (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) awarded in those venues.

      *Do* transwomen hold a disproportionately large percentage of all top honors awarded in those venues?

      It's a simple question. But so far, *not one* person who makes noise about "transwoman superiority" has yet managed to come up with the cold, hard data which would confirm that "transwoman superiority" really is a thing. Funny how that works, ennit?

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  2. O

    OrangeCandy

    Watching Jeopardy since its inception was always a thrill to me until Alex passed. Now it is one controversy after another. Making me lose interest.....

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  3. G

    GoldRing

    Well one thing is - she is smart

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    1. B

      BlueBandAid

      Yes, she sure is and isn't her intelligence the only thing that really matters?!!

  4. P

    PurpleDucky

    I pity the simple minded fools, who although are probably "adults", still act like ignorant immature worthless children and attack others for no other reason than to be "bullies". Most of those "bullies" grow up and become huge failures. You're dynamite AMY! Go for it all on Jeopardy! <3

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