‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Blast Show After Contestant Is ‘Robbed’ of $62,000
Wheel of Fortune fans are furious after a contestant lost out on taking home $62,000 during the Bonus Round after a controversial judges’ ruling. The player is said to have been a fraction of a second too late solving the puzzle, but many fans thought they got the answer before the buzzer.
Amanda Brown, from San Diego, California, played against Kristopher Oliviera, College Park, Maryland, and Sammie Anderson, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Friday, December 5. Brown is a dancer who loves watching dance shows and her kids’ dance.
Oliviera, a University of Maryland College employee, solved the first toss-up —”The Santa Clause“— with only one letter on the board. Brown solved the second — “High School Reunion” — for $2,000.
Anderson, a woman who is related to Charles Dickens, finally got on the board when she solved “Sleds, Scarves, and Sugarplums” for $1,800. Brown secured her lead when she solved “Buying an Engagement Ring,” which brought her up to $3,000.
Brown rode the express train in the prize puzzle round and gained $8,400 when she solved “Sensational Rides.” She also won a trip to Walt Disney World, which gave her a total of $20,878.
All three game show contestants solved one of the Triple Toss Ups, giving them $2,000 each. Anderson added $4,500 to her bank when she solved “Red and Green Sprinkles.” This gave her a total of $8,300. Oliveria took home $3,000.
Brown won $22,878 in cash and prizes and advanced to the Bonus Round. She brought her husband, mom, and daughters with her. Brown chose “Food & Drink” as her category.
Wheel of Fortune gave her “R,S,T,L,N, and E.” Brown rounded out her puzzle with “P,M,H, and A.” Her puzzle then looked like “MAPLE TA_ _ _.”
As the clock counted down, Brown guessed “Maple Takes,” “Maple Tazzy,” and “Maple Taffy.” The buzzer sounded right as she said “Maple Taffy,” which was the right answer.
“Did she get it in time?” host Ryan Seacrest asked the judges. “No. Not in time. Nice effort.”
She lost out on taking home an additional $40,000, which would have given her $62,878. However, fans thought that Brown did get it in time.
“They should have went to the commercial & check to see if the buzzer or her solve came first,” a YouTube commenter said.
“This entire ordeal will spark major controversy and be aired by all the major news networks.” another wrote.
“She started ON the buzzer. Legal solve in Wheel‘s rulebook, she was robbed. She should appeal,” a third added.
“She was robbed! She said it in time,” a fan wrote.
“It was in time. Didn’t feel like a close call,” a YouTuber user said.
“This is outrage! She got it!” one last fan wrote.
Wheel of Fortune, Weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
Spin That Wheel
Get absolutely everything about Wheel of Fortune in your inbox!
Conversation88 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
T
She solved the bonus round puzzle before the buzzard, I watch wheel every night and there’s nothing wrong with my hearing!!!!
She won the money this is so wrong, I’m not the only one that’s upset about this
-
M
I thought she got it just seconds before the buzzer sounded. They need to admit they were wrong and give her the money
-
J
"buzzard"?? 😂🤣
-
-
L
She got it right when the buzzer started so she was robbed of the money. I played it back and she is a winner.
-
S
I thought she solved it in time. I always thought that once a contestant started the puzzle it was legit.
-
Y
I stopped watching the show years ago and I'm glad I did because every time I turn around there's another controversy!
-
H
I quit WOF after this. I don't need the aggravation.
-
-
-
J
We think she got it too. If u start to say the puzzle u get tofinish. She should b given the 40,000 dollars.
-
E
She had already said the word Maple so she only needed to say Taffy before the buzzer and she did that in plenty of time. But to bash the hosts is wrong, the judge is the one who made the decision.
-
C
No, she said "Maple, tacky, taffy" she needed to say the whole thing together without anything else in the middle and she didn't have enough time.1 more second and she woild have had it.
-
V
Now you are making the rules
-
-
-
A
She 100% solved it before the buzzer she was already starting to speak when the buzzer went off
-
R
She clearly said the puzzle solution. The two hosts put on this phony aura about how much they love people but when it came down to awarding money, they chose the money. I'll look at them differently from now on.
-
C
I thought she got it on time!
-
L
Just watched the video and she even said taffy before the lights on the timer went out. Shame WOF.
-
P
Start a petition and do Not watch wheel until they make it right.
-
-
M
This isn't about Ryan. This is about the judges. Ryan had a job to tell her it wasn't on time. Not his fault. He was just doing what he was told
-
S
She was on time. This should be appealed.
-
-
F
The hosts have nothing to do with awarding money. They are just employees. Complain to the show's owners
-
S
Thats not true. The contestant must begin their answer ("start saying it") on or before the buzzer sounds.
-
J
Respectfully, I would like to see the article writers write accurate headlines. She lost the $40,000 prize. Not $62,000 or $63,000. Yes its how much her total winnings for the show would have been, but she was not robbed or lost all $62, or $63,000. Also while she could have appealed it, I totally understand her not wanting to make a big deal out of it. I think it was actually really mature and respectful of her to take the higher road in this situation.
-
T
I watch wheel every night she won the money!!!! They need to pay up! It might have been right on the dot but she still won. So if you don't want your audience to stop watching do what's right.
-
L
I think alot of people must not like Ryan. It doesn't matter how it turns out somebody has something to say about it. They have rules and that is what they have to go by weather you like it or not
I think Ryan is doing a fantastic job
If you have so much you don't like about Ryan doing the show
Change the channel
-
B
You Snooze & You Loose..Too Bad Too 😔 😟 🙁 😥
-
B
She most definitely was too slow 😆 🤣
-
A
No she did not get it in Time
The Buzzer Beat Her.
-
J
then there's something wrong with your hearing!
-
T
I watched it at .25x speed. She starts "maple" in between the two beeps on the buzzer. Therefore she did not start the answer before the buzzer.
-
-
-
S
She did not solve in time,I watched,a fraction of a second.
-
T
Watched at .25x speed and you're right.
-
-
K
She said maple tacky as the clock expired and immediately realized and tried to correct with maple taffy but it was too late.
-
S
Split second late .... sorry .... it's unfortunate but she didn't start before the buzzer started ..
-
D
You guys are all deaf. She didn't start saying the complete and correct phrase "Maple Taffy" until AFTER the buzzer sounded. What she said before it sounded was "Maple Tacky" and then single word "Taffy," after which the buzzer sounded, then she said the correct and complete phrase.
-
J
she didn't say anything after the buzzer went off!! play it again!
-
T
This is what I saw from watching it at .25x speed as well. She starts "maple" in between the two beeps on the buzzer.
-
-
C
No, she didn't get it. She said "taffy" before the buzzer but she didn't start saying it all together until after the buzzer. The rule kind of sucks since she obviously had figured it out before the buzzer, and that puzzle kind of sucks too, but as the rules stand the judges were right.
-
L
This needs to be investigated checked and replayed clearly she solved the puzzle in time. She said that’s ok, NO IT WASN’T OK!!
-
V
How much job does one person need
-
N
She got hella robbed!!!!
-
G
If they're saying she didn't they need to fix the red count down timer on screen that we see then, because she was definitely in the limit there.
-
W
I watched it and Im positive she got it in time. Good way to hurt your ratings WOF
-
M
Yeah,she was robbed.
-
H
That show has gone woke!
-
G
She said taffy before the buzzer but not maple taffy. I think the judges were right. If she had 1 more second she would have won
-
L
My family thinks she solved it in time.
-
T
You so-called fans blast the show yet you'll be watching it again tomorrow, you lifeless lemmings!!
-
N
I also was watching as she was trying to solve the puzzle anxiously waiting to see if she would solve it before the buzzer sounded and when she did I yelled “ oh my god she got it!” Yes it was at the last second but she honestly got it… when Ryan ask the judges did she get it in time I was like why are you asking you could clearly hear her solve this puzzle in time… I said I can not believe they did her like that… she was robbed of her winnings… Wheel Of Fortune please do the right thing and honor her with her winnings please… I watch this show everyday play along and try to win every time there is a contest going on for spectators that have created an account so I am locked in and like to see people treated right…
-
E
She was robbed! Wheel of Fortune. Do a playback and give her the prize
-
I
She said maple tacky taffy. That's incorrect. Next
-
M
Whether
-
D
Amanda Brown said “taffy” before the ten-second clock ON THE SCREEN ran out! The word “maple” was all spelled out and she had said it in the first few seconds. So she did say both words before the clock ran out. She then repeated “maple taffy” together after ten seconds had elapsed.
-
A
I heard her say it on in time yes she repeated but she said it! They made a mistake that they should correct
-
T
I actually watched this with my grandmother and she is 89, we both agree that she answered it in time. She definately should appeal it if she can. It was a close call but right a fraction before she called it like in a millisecond
-
Q
She did say it in time. She was robbed!
-
T
Just watched in .25x speed online and the she starts saying maple for the final answer right between the two beeps on the buzzer. Judges probably already had access to a reduced speed which they probably used to make the judgement. Definitely sucks to be that close, but she did not make it.
-
A
She totally got that before the buzzer sounded I heard her talk and didn't hear the buzzer till after the word taffy came out of her mouth.
-
N
Yes she did get it in time
-
W
She did solve in time she said Maple then hesitated then said Taffy at the same time the buzzer. I couldn't believe it when Ryan said judges said no..they owe her 63000 dollars Period!
-
D
I told my husband I thought for sure she said it in time
-
B
She definitely got it in time.
-
P
It looked like a good solve to me and my wife!!! She was robbed!
-
S
I said she got it. I was really frustrated because they didn’t give it to her. I think Ryan knew she got it. How can they sleep at night knowing that they stole that win from her?
-
A
She had it but they may of thought when she repeated it that was her first time saying it. They should admit they got this one wrong!
-
T
She didn't repeat it. She says maple tacky, taffy. Maple Taffy. And didn't start the final answer until after the buzzer started.
-
-
J
Where is the video at
-
T
I found one online and watched it at .25x speed and she started "maple" for the final answer in-between the two beeps for the buzzer. Judges were correct.
-
-
Y
It sounded to me as though she said the answer just before the buzzer so I think she got robbed
-
W
She had the word taffy before the buzzer but said maple taffy as the buzzer sounded, so she wasn't robbed of anything. The game rule is you have to say the whole thing before the buzzer sounds.
-
K
Since Ryan took over, I, find he cheats.
She said Maple taffy, twice, she got it. HE doesn't hear well.
-
V
I call bullshit! She clearly said Taffe just before thr buzzer sounded!! Those judges are deaf. If I were her I'd get a lawyer and sue for my $62K. She clearly won! Ppl will boycott the show if they don't pay her!
-
T
Ludicrous!! She definitely beat the buzzer!!! Wth?!!!!
-
B
She definitely said it in time. Judges need to go back and carefully review. This isn't fair.
-
J
She did solve it in time. She said Maple Taffy before the buzzer even started to sound. I went back and watch the recorded show. The person that decided it was not in time was apparently not paying attention at all.
-
T
You're wrong. She says maple tacky, taffy. Then starts saying maple in between the two beeps of the buzzer after the first one started. I watched it at .25x speed and it's very obvious.
-
-
P
I was definitely screaming at the game show cause that woman said the answer before the buzzer and looking back at many contestants before her with the same energy was given the win so why exclude her?! It’s not fair and i didn’t appreciate that!
-
C
The judges are being racist by saying she didn't make it in time when she did. She deserves the money
-
J
she finished saying it before the buzzer went off!!!!! of course she she should get it!! it's a blatant violation by Wheel!
-
J
She definitely got it before the buzzer.
-
S
I replayed it & she definitely solved it before the buzzer.
-
G
She beat the buzzer by 2 seconds , I hope she contacts production about this . They will see she won the game.
-
S
As far as I saw she got it in time. If the program is going to cheat her out of her bonus winnings then you just lost me. I refuse to watch/play anymore.
-
L
I watched the show and I felt she got it in time! I was disappointed for her. She should appeal and they should do a replay when that happens..
-
S
She said maple taffy before the buzzer went off. I hope the Judges watch this again and again. Best of Luck!!!!!!
-
S
She was ripped off. Fix it😤
-
S
She did say the correct answer in time. I listened to her on a recording of the show.
-
S
Yes, we all believe that she solved it in time as well. Now that im seeing everyone else saying the same, I hope she can appeal this.
-
T
She did get it. The judges were absolutely wrong! Is this a race thing? Im sure it would have went differently otherwise. Let's be fair. Nothing personal. Give credit where credit is do. # alwaysafight.
-
J
Andddd you just summed up what is wrong with this country and the people. Since she is Black, its automatically a race issue. It surely cannot have anything to do with the rules, nope, she's black, its racist
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services