Jeopardy! criticised for using 'appalling' and 'insensitive' clue in new show

Fans of the Jeopardy! were left appalled by an 'insensitive' joke during this week's show.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the set up, the long-running series invites contestants on to answer a series of questions, with a big cash prize at the end.

However, while the usual format of any quiz show worth its salt is a simple question and answer, Jeopardy! is slightly different.

Instead, it provides contestants with a clue, for example: 'In 2021, this famous football team signed Cristiano Ronaldo, and it didn't end badly at all'.

If they know the answer, the player would then respond with: "What is Manchester United?"

You get the gist, right?

ABC

Well, on Sunday (13 November) night's episode of the show, contestants were asked for responses that included the letter 'A'.

And their clue did not go down well with viewers at home.

They were asked: "In 2021, fugitive Brian Laundrie ended his days in Fla’s Myakkahatchee Creek area, home to these long and toothy critters."

To which the answer was: "What are alligators?"

The controversial question was obviously a reference to the disappearance of Gabby Petito, who was brutally murdered by her then partner Laundrie during their cross-country road trip last year.

Twitter

After Petito's family didn't hear from the 22-year-old for a couple of weeks they reported her missing on 11 September, and her disappearance attracted worldwide media attention.

Laundrie then disappeared on 14 September and Petito's body was discovered on 19 September on the edge of Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park, which the couple had visited.

A huge manhunt culminated in the unearthing of Laundrie's remains on 20 October in the Carlton Reserve wilderness park, near the Laundries' home.

The whole tragic ordeal was front page news around the world, with people devastated by the news of Petito's death.

And the use of it as a clue on the popular gameshow was heavily criticised by viewers.

Writing on Twitter, one user said: "The weirdest Jeopardy clue."

Another commented: "One of the worst answers ever tonight, @Jeopardy."

"The Brian Laundrie one showed a complete lack of class and total disrespect," put a third.

While another added: "This is the most tasteless and insensitive answer I've ever seen on any Jeopardy! What the hell were they thinking? Making light of that tragic situation is repugnant. Damn."