Celebrity Jeopardy's Gabby Petito-Related Clue Has Viewers Up In Arms
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Gabby Petito's chilling disappearance sparked nationwide interest in September of 2021. At the time, Petito had been on a cross-country excursion with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, which she was documenting across her social media channels. However, her family soon became suspicious about her whereabouts. According to CNN, Petito's mother last had visible contact with her via FaceTime on August 24 before spending the next few days communicating only via text. Petito's last exchange with her family occurred on August 30 and read "No service in Yosemite," which they've since doubted the authenticity of.
On September 1, Laundrie returned to his parent's home in Florida without Petito, per the NY Times. Ten days later, Petito's family filed a missing person report, thus prompting a national search for her. Laundrie was officially named as a person of interest on September 18, per People. After refusing to cooperate with authorities, Laundrie went missing. As the investigation officially began, police cam footage of Petito and Laundrie that suggested that the pair had a tumultuous relationship surfaced. Petito's remains were found in Wyoming national park in late September, per NY Post. One month later, Laundrie, who died by suicide, was found with a notebook he used to confess Petito's killing, per My Sun Coast.
Petito's case sparked intense national interest. Now, one year after, "Celebrity Jeopardy" is in hot water for referencing Petito's case on the show.
'Celebrity Jeopardy's' fans outraged over Gabby Petito clue
"Celebrity Jeopardy," hosted by "The Big Bang Theory" alum, Mayim Bialik," has garnered backlash for incorporating Petito's death into a crass clue. During the November 13 episode, which featured Wil Wheaton, John Michael Higgins, and Kim Booster, Bialik announced a clue that read: "In 2021, fugitive Brian Laundrie ended his days in FLA's Myakkahatchee Creek area, home to these long and toothy creatures." One contestant then buzzed in with the correct answer: "What are alligators?"
However, fans aren't happy with how the show connected Petito's murder and killer to the answer. Host Brian Fink tweeted, "WTAF @Jeopardy. Couldn't you have come up with ANY other clue for 'alligators' than using Gabby Petito's murderer?" "Jeopardy just used Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito as a clue just now WTF @Jeopardy #CelebrityJeopardy #Jeopardy," wrote another Twitter user. "Hope @Jeopardy apoligizes to the #Petito family. Using someone's suicide as part of a clue not cool," tweeted another concerned viewer. "Who okays these clues? You know Laundrie murdered the young #GabbyPetito. Perhaps you could mention her&the #GabbyPetitoFoundation. Alex Trebek would be shaking his head right now."
While "Celebrity Jeopardy," or anyone affiliated with the show, has yet to comment on the fan's outrage, this isn't the first time their clues have spawned a backlash. In 2021, fans spoke up after the show compared listed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a heart condition, as "Grinch syndrome." The show subsequently apologized, per CNN.