‘Wheel of Fortune’ Controversy as Player Has Wild Win on Buzzer Beater
A Wheel of Fortune player had a stunning buzzer beater win….but some fans think she might have gotten lucky with the judges. Sarah LaPilusa, a mental health clinic owner and psychologist from Poway, California, reached the Bonus Round on the Wednesday, February 27 episode, and left fans debating if the judges made the right call.
She versed Jimmy Holgerson, an Air Force member for the last 22 years who had speech problems growing up, from Goldsboro, North Carolina. He said that Wheel helped him overcome his problems and enunciate better. Also competing was Yolanda Tillett, who enjoys traveling with her husband and best friend, Monique, and her best friend’s husband, Ricky. Tillett revealed that she has partied with Snoop Dogg and showed off her beatboxing skills.
This beatboxing on Wheel of fortune is pure gold #WheelOfFortune #beatboxing pic.twitter.com/Cy9lmu04Gs
— JackBurton (@JackBurtonmee) February 27, 2025
By the end of the show, Holgerson ended with $2,000. Tillett was in second with $13,500. LaPilusa ended with $15,050 and a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
LaPilusa brought her husband, Justin, and two kids, Samantha and Ally, with her to the game show, whom she introduced at the end of the show. They wished her luck as she spun the wheel.
The game show contestant chose the category “People” for her final puzzle. After Wheel gave her “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” she guessed “M,B,H, and O.” The puzzle then looked like this: “_ _ SS_ B_B_ES.”
“Jazzy babies,” she said, which was wrong. Just as the buzzer went off, she yelled, “Fussy babies!”
Host Ryan Seacrest was shocked. “Oh my God! It is ‘Fussy Babies.’ Did she make it in time, judges?” he asked.
He waited a second before saying, “You got it!”
Lapilusa screamed and jumped around the stage, hugging Seacrest.
“Congratulations!” he said, chuckling. She won an additional $40,000 to add to her total, leaving with $55,050.
“That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything so close,” Seacrest said.
Fans were torn on her win, as some thought she got it after the buzzer.
“THE LAST MICRO-SECOND!!!” a YouTube user commented.
“Now THAT was definitely a buzzer beater, right there!!” said another.
“That’s what I call a buzzer beater. Great job, Sarah!” wrote one fan.
“Wow, she barely got it in time! That was a close call!” a YouTube user said.
However, some fans didn’t think that Lapilusa solved it in time.
“Fussy Babies – the most barely solve I’ve seen #WheelOfFortune,” an X user tweeted.
“That was 100% after the buzzer. It was so plainly obvious. #WheelOfFortune #Rigged #Scripted,” tweeted another.
“That #WheelOfFortune bonus round answer sure sounded after the buzzer,” a third added.
“That was a CLOSE solve! I don’t think she got it in time. But I’m glad the prize money was still given to her. #WheelOfFortune,” one last fan wrote.
Do you think LaPilus solved the puzzle in time? Sound off in the comments.
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Conversation12 Comments
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G
It has always been the rule if they start it prior to the buzzer and complete it correctly. Replaying it, she started before the buzzer
13
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B
I replayed it a couple times and she started just before the buzzer went off.
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G
I agree
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W
She made that in time by a big margin. Surprised Ryan had to even check with the judges.
5
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O
I believe she got it!! WOW! Congratulations
3
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C
Replayed it on DVR. She got it. Retired 911 dispatcher. I can still hear…. Lol
2
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P
The visual timer and buzzer are not synchronized - she said it after the circle turned fully red but before the sound of the buzzer
1
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R
She started her answer the moment the buzzer went off, so the judges definitely got it right.
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G
No, I don’t think she got it in time, but I’m glad they gave her the money. Close enough. Good will.
4 4
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G
Appropriate that you’re all discussing “fussy babies”; I suppose you recognize yourselves.
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O
I think she said fuzzy babies
1
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O
I wasn't sure but my hubby says NOT IN TIME...
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