‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Halley Jokes She’s ‘Seeing Therapist’ Over Mark Wahlberg Gaffe

Martin Holmes June 30, 2022, 9:59 am

Chuck D, Jeopardy, Mark Wahlberg — Randy Shropshire/Getty Images; Jeopardy!; Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Another episode of Jeopardy! and another gaffe that is going to live long in the memory of one embarrassed contestant who confused a hip hop legend with an Academy Award-winning actor.

The moment came during the Wednesday, June 29 episode when the contestants were faced with the category “Chuck D, Times 3,” which included clues featuring author Charles Dickens and biologist Charles Darwin. Things were going well until a clue came up about Chuck D, the founder, leader, and frontman of the hip hop group Public Enemy.

“In the 1990s, Chuck D began fighting the power in this hip hop group with Flavor Flav, a man who always knew what time it was,” host Mayim Bialik read.

Contestant Halley Ryherd buzzed in with the answer, “What is the Funky Bunch?” This was obviously incorrect, given that The Funky Bunch was a 90s group headlined by Transformers actor Mark Wahlberg, then known as Marky Mark.

Viewers were quick to pile on Ryherd for her error, with one fan tweeting, “A contestant on Jeopardy just guessed Chuck D was in a group called The Funky Bunch and now I’m turning off the TV.”

A contestant on Jeopardy just guessed Chuck D was in a group called The Funky Bunch and now I’m turning off the TV. pic.twitter.com/Lh7br8zvVj

— Abelopez (@Abelopez) June 30, 2022

However, Chuck D himself didn’t take offense and even had Ryherd’s back. “Everybody don’t know everything… it’s why I introduce myself wherever I go and whoever I talk to … it’s just courtesy,” he wrote. “But the sad thing is not knowing those other Chuck Ds.”

Everybody don’t know everything… it’s why I introduce myself wherever I go and whoever I talk to … it’s just courtesy. But the sad thing is not knowing those other Chuck Ds pic.twitter.com/gxLnyVmxCp

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 30, 2022

As for Ryherd, she joked that she’s seeking therapy after her on-screen mix-up. “I’ve talk to my therapist about it and I think I’m ready to forever be the person who mixed up Public Enemy and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch on @Jeopardy. #mylegacy,” she tweeted.

I’ve talk to my therapist about it and I think I’m ready to forever be the person who mixed up Public Enemy and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch on @Jeopardy. #mylegacy

— Halley Ryherd (she/her) (@Halley_BuzzesIn) June 29, 2022

'Jeopardy!': Mayim Bialik Talks About Being Compared to Ken Jennings

It’s not all bad for Ryherd, though, as she ended up winning the episode, bagging $5,999 in earnings.

Check out more reaction below.

Watching Jeopardy tonight with my Mom, and a category about Chuck D came up. The question came up about what group Chuck D was in, and one lady answered the Funky Bunch, and Mom looked at me and said Public Enemy, and I said thank you for being my Mom, lol. pic.twitter.com/KVeqpeZUbm

— Jerry Parsons21225 (@jerry_parsons) June 29, 2022

Chuck D and the Funky Bunch #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/hLjhj2RhqU

— Corina H (@corinabobina) June 29, 2022

The Funky Bunch? #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/pUg4UeQYRW

— Tired of this shit (@tiredtinNYC) June 29, 2022

The Funky Bunch???
Really? @MrChuckD
Watch this. #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/GQiy5x0O1o

— 50400Degreez (@jee443117) June 29, 2022

I simply do not have a response to someone confusing Public Enemy and …the Funky Bunch.

Don McLean was incorrect. Today is the day the music died. #Jeopardy

— Terynce B (@TerynceB) June 29, 2022

Jeopardy!, Weeknights, Check your local listings