Vanna White Absent From ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Episodes Amid Contract Dispute
Vanna White will reportedly be missing from Wheel of Fortune for the first time in over 30 years amid contract negotiations following host Pat Sajak‘s forthcoming retirement.
During Wheel of Fortune’s “Teachers Week” block filmed in late July, White is said to have caught COVID, Puck News reports. Instead of postponing shooting while White recuperated, show bosses are said to have used California-based “Teacher of the Year” recipient Bridgette Donald-Blue to fill in as letter turner. The episodes will likely air in October.
Bridgette Donald-Blue LinkedIn
The decision has come as White’s contract negotiations have heated up as she seeks her first salary increase in almost 20 years. Sources suggest the decision could be a “smart producing move, or a veiled message sent to White’s aggressive lawyers: Go ahead, push us harder.”
According to TMZ, White’s lawyer Bryan Freedman told Sony Pictures his client is looking for 50% of what [Pat] Sajak makes.
However, a source has told People that the previous report was “inaccurate,” including the claim that White accepted an offer of $100,000 per episode to continue the show’s Celebrity edition.
White has only been away from the show three times. The first in 1986 when predecessor Susan Stafford returned while White grieved the death of her boyfriend John Gibson after a tragic plane crash, again when Tricia Gist took over for White’s two-week honeymoon with George San Pietro in 1991; and Gist once more when White caught a cold the same year.
On two occasions, Sajak’s daughter Maggie has taken over White’s role at the letter board—initially in 2019 during her father’s surgery recovery and once more in 2023 for ABC’s primetime Celebrity edition of Wheel. However, even during these instances, White remained a significant part of the broadcast by hosting in 2019 and participating in the competition in 2023.
As previously noted, Sajak will be stepping down from his long-standing position as the host of Wheel at the conclusion of Season 41. Episodes featuring Ryan Seacrest as the new host are scheduled to air in September 2024.
Wheel of Fortune, Season 41 Premiere, Monday, September 11, Check your local listings
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Vanna won the hearts of of millions of fans. She does a great job. Praying Vanna gets a nice pay raise after decades of doing an amazing job on Wheel Of Fortune.
46 8
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P
Why would you pray for her to get a pay raise? Dumb
6 2
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Whether she deserves a raise or not, how could she not do a great job? All she has to do is walk to the square that lights up and touch it. How could you screw that up? In reality, she really isn't needed as the boxes could turn electronically. I would say her biggest part of the job is modeling the clothes she's given to wear.
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Why is she crying because she's "only making $100,000. per episode"?? How many of us makes that in a lifetime?? I understand that there's a huge level of tension on a TV set, but come on, $100,000 five times a week isn't enough to live on??? That's half a million dollars each week. No one is worth that much money!!
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I LOVE Vanna! Give her a raise!
44 9
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She's old, they need to get rid of her
3 5
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Please give Vanna a well deserved raise if not a lot of loyal fans will not be watching wheel including me and my wholefamily .
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Better keep Vanna if you want the old, loyal fans to stay with the show and put up with Ryan Seacrest!
35 7
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I love Ryan Searest, he'd be a great choice to replace Pat Sajak.
3 2
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The "old fans" are aging out: it's a business and it needs to draw in the next generations of viewers.
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Vanna is truly Americas sweetheart there should never be that much difference in Pat and Vannas pay it’s not fair
23 8
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G
Their jobs are totally different.
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O
So many comments about getting too much pay for looking pretty and turning letters and being greedy. The point is after 30 years, and as a woman she has just as much right as her coworkers for comparable pay for her position and seniority just like any other industry.
16 4
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No one on the show does as little as she does. She barely speaks whereas the host and announcer do. She needs to exit stage left.
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C
Vanna is aging too and her reasons for getting the job in the first place are rapidly fading away. So if she gets a long contract might we see her flipping the cards using a walker? Hope she retires sooner and let's us remember her in her more beautiful years...
24 13
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That's ridiculous. She's "aging out" so let her leave so we can remember her as young and beautiful?? Totally saying she is only worth her looks. Today's aging generation has more energy and longevity than ever before. I think you thinking is outdated.
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She's totally redundant. She has no real reason for being there. The letters light up and appear in the bonus puzzle without her. What is her purpose?
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No sajacks daughter should have to work her way from the ground up instead of trying to steal someone else position who been there longer than her
14 3
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Agree
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G
You better keep a Anna or you will lose a lot of loyal fans!! She is the best and totally deserves a raise!!
13 6
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Are you kidding me? She wants more money for touching letters? Go out and get a real job paying $20 HR and see how you like it. Ridiculous!🙄
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I fully agree with Jim, get a real job and work 40 hours a week for the whole year. This is not work and it could be done automatically and save 100 000 dollars per episode. Just close the position all together.👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿
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And Pat's position couldn't be done automatically? Vanna did more work than he did.
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Bringing race into the equation helps no one. The point of it all
is:Vanna has worked 20 years without a raise. Who of any of us would put up with that. It is enough INJUSTICE for me to dump Wheel entirely.Pepper
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white has no charm step down
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Vanna White lacks personality and spark. I can’t believe she wasn’t replaced long ago.
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I will stop looking at Wheel of Fortune if Vanna White gets remove. How would you feel if you didn’t get a raise in 20 years .
2 1
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Maybe it’s time for her to retire. Sounds like she is getting gready to me.
I love Vanna and Pat. But seriously Hasn’t she made enough money.
11 10
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Are you kidding? Do you know how much he makes?
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Count the words she speaks per episode and compare it to the number of words Pat speaks. She's overpaid.
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How could the producers have missed "the in your face" simple & obvious choice. Vanna hosts Pat's daughter turns letters. More new guys & gals than ever would be watching along with all the faithful regulars.
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Wanna did very poorly when she replaced Pat during his health episode.
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Why would they keep Vanna White? Everything is now automated and do they really need a person with expensive gowns to flip letter? The salary she gets is totally crazy. Why would a TV station pay that extravagant salary to do such a job. A person is NOT needed to flip letters. Should be done automatically.
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AMERICA HAS LOVED VANNA FOR YEARS. TIME COMES WHEN YOU SHOULD STEP ASIDE. SHE,S BEEN LOVELY, BUT AGE AND GREED DOES SNEAK UPON US.STEP DOWN AND LET THE NEW FUTURE HAVE A CHANCE...
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Some of us have had work starting age 14. Now as I get older I'm taking care of my aging husband being a caregiver doesn't pay that great! Everyone should be thankful if we have what we need! Anymore than that will be for someone to have to throw out when where not around anymore! Knowing your limit is the key 🔑 👌
3 3
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Seems like they are trying to ease Vanna out for zMaggie
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When Pat Sajak leaves,so should Vanna. You never said one name without the other. Let the next generation turn those letters
2 2
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Program is turning black I am gone
1 1
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Keep Vana, she is iconic!!
2 2
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No Vanna, I'm not watching
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O
I think Pat Sajak is wanting his daughter in her spot and she don't deserve it. There is many people that has waited years on that job that are much more appealing than her. Give Vanna what she wants or I'm sure she can walk .
1 2
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Reportable, Pat did not want Vanna to be wheel turner from the start, but owners of show insisted on Vanna
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Vanna should have made more than Pat when she was actually turning letters. She's the one that was doing all the work
5 6
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She's totally unnecessary. The bonus puzzle turns just fine without her and always has. She did a mediocre job filling in for Pat when he was ill. Terminate her when her contract expires.
1 1
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We are all getting older, watched wheel of fortune all thru the Pat and Vanna years. Time for a change! Retire and let some young blood have a chance. With all the money Vanna earned over the years, she should be sitting pretty. Move on.
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Will stop watching if Vanna is out. ALSO if Sajaks family member is on show. Too much nepotism on tv, Dr Phil's wife, Kelly and Mark, Rachael Ray's husband just to name a few!
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If that is true,Count this house whole off.
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Out with the old in with the new please but not Pat’s daughter. Please, please.
7 9
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No loss there, she's redundant and has been for years.
11 13
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Makes super big bucks for turning letters and wearing a nice wardrobe. Deal with it!!
15 19
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She makes 3 M$ per year. She was overpaid when she made it 18 years ago, and it's about right, now.
2 7
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I think Vanna should have been out a long time ago. Sge really is not needed. She gets paid millions to touch letters on an electronic letter board.
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