‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Responds to Claims He Is Transphobic
Ken Jennings will not stand for any slander against him, especially when it comes to transgender rights. The Jeopardy! clapped back at a post claiming that he is transphobic because he plays a game on a platform that is accused of being against trans rights.
The conversation started when Jennings posted a screenshot of him and his wife, Mindy, playing the New York Times’ Spelling Bee game on BlueSky. A user on the platform reposted Jennings’ post and said, “I wish people who care about trans people could understand that playing nyt games is still an insult to trans people,” according to the NY Post. The post has since been deleted. (GLAAD has outlined some of the issues lodged against The New York Times‘ trans-related reporting, which NYT has dismissed as factually inaccurate.)
In response, Jennings responded, “This may be true of others, but I actually got express permission from the trans community to keep NYT games and recipes. I also have a news subscription, which is arguably worse, so I had to specifically send in a written request. Took 30 days but I got approved. They were like ‘Trans people are not a monolith’ and ‘Like-minded allies may disagree on specific media boycotts’ and stuff like that. It was a huge load off my mind!”
“I was being sincere and serious, but thanks for turning it into a joke. That feels great,” the original user said. They publicly told their followers that Jennings had not responded since their response, but Jennings cooked up a public response on his account after receiving backlash on the platform.
Jennings spoke out about the claims and shared his support for the community a few days later. “I saw yesterday that some right-wing outlets were running stories about me, which I’m used to. But this time I’m going to say something about it, because these were framed to imply that I was aligned with their own transphobia,” he wrote on August 2.
I saw yesterday that some right-wing outlets were running stories about me, which I’m used to. But this time I’m going to say something about it, because these were framed to imply that I was aligned with their own transphobia. ⬇️
— Ken Jennings (@kenjennings.bsky.social) August 2, 2026 at 12:08 PM
“For the record: NOPE. Honestly, I don’t think there’s an issue today I care about on a personal level more deeply than trans rights. And it’s rough out there right now. Bigots on one side of the political aisle and too many cowards on the other.”
“Anyone who knows me even a little, or has even followed me long on social media, already knows this about me. Our institutions are literally trying to erase trans people right now, and it pisses me off. A snarky reply to one bad take on Bluesky doesn’t mean that’s changed at all,” he continued.
“My TV job is apolitical, but I’m proud that one of the things we make is a space that’s trans- and nb-friendly, and that’s not going to change either. So that’s the thing to know, if you’re a tabloid that’s going to name-check me in another round of transphobic shit about Bluesky discourse. I don’t stand with you. I stand with my trans friends and family members,” Jennings ended.
The game show host has publicly been a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. He has supported transgender contestant Amy Schneider through her many accomplishments outside of the show. Jennings has also discussed what his drag name would be after sharing a post about queer game show hosts.
In July 2025, Jennings slammed Governor Gavin Newsom on BlueSky. The host responded to a fellow user who wrote, “I will never, ever vote for Gavin Newsom. Ever, under any circumstances. I don’t care if he becomes the Dem nominee, he’s still not getting my vote.”
“This is correct,” Jennings replied. “Any candidate cynically ‘triangulating’ on trans kids is a non-starter, and now is the time to say so. There’s still so much time to advance candidates that DON’T suck.”
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M
It takes a real hater to make this kind of an accusation against Ken Jennings.
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E
Governor Gavin Newsom, not Senator. Governor of California.
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B
I’m always so curious for those to actually define the word woke, generally, they can’t if you historically look it up, and of course, the opposite of woke is to be asleep. Think about it
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J
What? Now my simple pleasure of doing a crossword puzzle is dubious? Let's get real.
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G
(Rolls eyes.) At this point, everyone is going to offend someone by something they do/say unless they just lock themselves up in a room and never come out... and then the shut-ins would probably accuse them of "cultural appropriation."
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B
Good for Ken Jennings, always liked the guy, but I respect him even more. I am just so personally sick and tired of that certain element constantly trying to degrade trans people, and always pulling out the trans card the minute. THEY get caught doing something wrong, because they find them easy to beat up on and score points with their own base. Here’s a novel idea , just leave them alone.
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H
I am very surprised at the way he is acting in his social media posts.
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L
It hurts me to see the "pressure" being put on celebrity & politicians to be woke. I know it's a sensitive subject but there is an inevitable, definitive line to be drawn in the sand here: biblical side and worldly (political) side. There's no gray area here, so it surprises me that Ken, a Mormon, would take the baiting of social media opinions to assure the public that he supports the LGBTQ communities. I still like Ken and I understand the position he's in. He's a human being stuck in the crosshairs of public opinion, but it is only God's statutes that will ultimately matter and prevail.😘❤️🔥❤️🩹🙏🏼
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P
It ain't the "right wing" attacking him here, but sure, this man-child just has to bring that into the discussion anyway. He is not a decent person. He never was.