‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak tells contestant to ‘shut up’

It caused several heads to spin.

Pat Sajak once again caused an uproar on social media after the longtime “Wheel of Fortune” host told one player to “shut up” during Tuesday’s episode — even though he was joking.

The moment came just before the show’s bonus round when Sajak, 77, was tallying up the points from the most recent round.

“According to my math, by $200…” Sajak began before he was interrupted by contestant Angela Omezie, who screamed when she realized she won the round.

“Shut up,” Omezie screeched, causing the game show host to freeze.

“You didn’t mean that personally,” Sajak queried, to which Omezie responded: “No … never.”

“According to my math, by $233, you are the winner with $11,900,” Sajak went on.

Ecstatic about her win, Omezie began clapping excitedly.

“Shut up,” Sajak mocked, as he attempted to match her energy.

Although meant in all fun, his remark drew the ire of several online fans.

“@WheelofFortune @patsajak was highly disrespectful and inappropriate on the show that aired today (1/16/24),” one X user slammed. “The contestant Angela yelled in excitement after winning and was told: ‘Will you shut up!’ Angela did not deserve to be spoken to in that manner. Joke or not. Do better.”

“Maybe winning $11k isn’t big to him but she was obviously excited and deserved to have her moment,” a second user replied.

A third viewer commented that they “heard that too and were horrified.”

Some “Wheel of Fortune” fans, however, defended the legendary host.

“Karma,” one person replied. “She clearly deserved it for something she did wrong when she was a child but didn’t get busted for doing. It took this long for karma to get to her but it never forgets.”

“Ok re-watch it. He was NOT telling her to ‘shut up.’ She said to HIM ‘shut up’ in excitement and he said it back,” defended a second person. “They were bantering. I was initially very upset but realized there was a “shut up” joke going on between the two. The banter moves fast and can fall flat.”

This is not Sajak’s first rodeo with social media haters.

Earlier this month, Sajak denied a contestant victory after she failed to pronounce “congenial” correctly.

“Uh, no,” the longtime emcee told contestant Shauna Williams.

Several of the host’s haters rampaged that he was being “cold-blooded.”

In June 2023, Sajak said he will be retiring from “Wheel” after the show’s 41st season.

“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he tweeted at the time. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”

Ryan Seacrest will replace Sajak.