“Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings stirred controversy online after he used sarcasm to dismiss calls from transgender activists urging a boycott of The New York Times game offerings. Jennings joked about having “express permission from the trans community” to continue his games subscription, which led to backlash from some who felt he trivialized their concerns.
The incident began on Bluesky, a social media platform where Jennings shared screenshots of The New York Times’ Spelling Bee game. In his post, Jennings humorously mentioned that he and his wife enjoyed inventing the day’s most unpleasant-sounding word.
“My wife and I have a game where we try to invent the day’s grossest-sounding word on NYT Spelling Bee.” — Ken Jennings
The post attracted attention from a user who argued that engaging with New York Times products could still be offensive to those who support transgender rights. Jennings responded with sarcasm, stating he received formal approval from the trans community to engage with Times products.
According to Jennings, this permission came after a 30-day review, a process he referenced humorously in his response. He included that the approval feedback reminded him of the diversity of opinions within the transgender community.
The user who originally raised the concern openly criticized Jennings for turning their serious remark into a joke. Despite these exchanges, Jennings made no outreach or apology at that time.
Some Bluesky users criticized Jennings’ dismissive tone, noting his need to respect different perspectives. Others questioned whether he would issue an apology.
Commenting on the larger reaction, journalist Jesse Singal noted the nature of hyperpartisan platforms like Bluesky. He pointed out that the outrage could reflect the platform’s dynamics more than general sentiments, as certain users may exhibit rigid views there.
Transgender activists have long criticized The New York Times for editorial stances perceived as anti-trans, arguing that any associated web traffic financially supports the publication’s contentious positions. In 2023, numerous contributors joined subscribers in signing a letter condemning its transgender issue coverage. GLAAD also addressed this, deeming the coverage ‘irresponsible’ and biased.
Ken Jennings has openly supported transgender rights, previously criticizing policy positions he viewed as harmful to transgender youth. During debate on a different topic, he challenged California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s views on transgender athletes, demonstrating his willingness to engage publicly on these issues.