‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Expresses ‘Regret’ Using Hand Gesture, Condemns White Supremacy
Recent Jeopardy! contestant, Kelly Donohue, is responding to claims he allegedly flashed a white power hand sign while on-air.
The three-time winner came under fire after he held up three fingers during the intro to his fourth episode as the gesture resembled the white power hand signal often used by white supremacist groups. The competitor from Winthrop, Massachusetts initially responded to claims he flashed the symbol on the show by noting he’d done a similar gesture on prior episodes to indicate the number of wins he’d reached so far.
That initial statement has since been removed from Donohue’s Facebook which has limited access. Following Donohue’s appearance and first statement, hundreds of former Jeopardy! contestants called out the hand symbol as well as Donohue’s use of the now-defunct and derogatory term “gypsy” to describe the Roma people in an open letter to producers.
“I’m truly horrified with what has been posted about me on social media. I absolutely, unequivocally condemn white supremacy and racism of any kind,” Donohue’s latest statement posted to Facebook reads. “People who know me personally know that I am not a racist, but for the public at large it bears repeating: I am not a racist and I reject and condemn white supremacy and all forms of bigotry for the evil they are.”
(Credit: Jeopardy!, Inc.)
Donohue continues to explain that his gesture was meant to indicate his number of wins in the game and condemns any kind of actions that would promote hate on the Jeopardy! stage. “It’s shameful to me to think anyone would try to use the stage of Jeopardy! to advance or promote such a disgusting agenda,” he wrote. “During the taping of my fourth episode, I was simply raising three fingers to mark my 3rd win. There was nothing more I was trying to indicate.”
He goes on to say, “I deeply regret this terrible misunderstanding. I never meant to hurt a soul and I assure you I am no friend of racists or white supremacists.” Jeopardy! has yet to respond to the open letter issued by former contestants.
Jeopardy!, Weeknights, Check your local listings
This… Is… Jeopardy!
Get absolutely everything about Jeopardy! in your inbox!
Conversation15 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
P
it is not a misunderstanding, it's the cancel culture at work once again. Why should he donate his winnings he's done nothing wrong.
21 1
-
G
WOW! The world has gone mad. Not everything is racist. For anyone to suggest he should donate his winnings get a life and a job and donate your money.
17 2
-
G
He held up 1 finger when he won 1 game. He held up 2 fingers when he won 2 games. Then he held up 3 fingers when he won 3 games. Who is complaining about that being a racially motivated thing? ? The blacks!
14 1
-
R
Naw your mom
1 1
-
-
C
Why in the heck does he need to apologize?? You can’t raise 3 fingers anymore without being racist?? I guess 3 year olds can’t show 3 fingers as their age because they’re racist??? Who can provide a list of all racist hand gestures so the general public will know??? OMG!!! Insane!!!
10 1
-
R
I think the man is telling the truth! Get off that "racist" theme already.
How many more people are you trying to ruin? Stupid!
9 1
-
C
I never knew there was a white power hand gesture. Also I never knew that the term "gypsy" was derogatory.uest
1
-
O
This has nothing to do with cancel culture or woke, it has all to do with your white militia nationalist. They can't create their own symbols so they snatch every innocent gesture and make it a hate emblem ie; the frog, their white power sign, even the nazi symbol was a symbol of love, happiness.....
1
-
O
Boy scouts hold up three fingers does that mean they're racist too ??
-
O
lol
-
O
The people complaining are the racist's themselves!
-
O
I see nothing wrong with what he did. As for other contestants writing an open Letter, GROW UP! jeeze seriously, he did not mean anything wrong by it. Only that he had 3 wins.. Bunch of lunatics in this world!
-
G
The 'Mark of the Mob' is indelible ! ! ..................No apologies nor tithing to the beast will be sufficient...........666 ain't even close to this mark!
-
R
This is without doubt the STUPIDEST cancel "culture" rant this week. No doubt, next week there will be one to top it.
I, personally, think Anderson Cooper is too white to be on TV. I mean, LOOK at him, could ANYTHING be whiter?? OR richer?
1 3
-
B
let him donate the money !!!
15
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