‘Jeopardy!’ Host Mike Richards Regrets Comments About Women

There’s a saying that goes; ‘The internet never forgets,’ and new “Jeopardy!” host, Mike Richards newly got a taste of what it means for the internet to never forget a deed, whether positive or negative. Usually, in today’s world, celebrities are reminded of their past negative acts, and it takes a lot for people to let go.

Richards may not have woken up expecting the drama he was faced with lately, but he’s at the center of it and there’s only one thing he could do.

The host faced numerous backlashes recently when a clip from a podcast session that ran from 2013 to 2014 resurfaced. In the clip, the host could be heard talking crudely about women in one-piece swimsuits. He also made direct and triggering comments about big noses.

After these comments came to life, the American television producer was slammed and trolled online by angry fans and viewers, who used to support him as the host of “New Jeopardy.” To make amend for what he did, Richards tendered an apology to his fans and women in general, calling his actions and words ‘thoughtless.’

Will fans receive this apology with open arms or is Richards still in the hot pot? Keep reading below to find out more details.

The Podcast Slander

Richards made some unkind comments about women in bathing and swimsuits, which did not in any way resonate with his fans, especially his female fans. His comments about women with big noses go thus; “Ixnay on the ose-nay… She’s not an ew-Jay.”

They also recalled other slandering comments that the host made about Asians and Jews, which further intensified their anger towards him. Many called out the 46-year-old for his behavior over the years and refused to believe that he could or had changed. Twitter fans also called out “New Jeopardy,” for failing to see through Richards’ red flags before hiring him as a host on the show.

Instagram | Mike Richards

Following the unearthed podcast clip, the official page for the podcast was pulled off the internet, and shortly after, Richards reached out to everyone with an apology.

“It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago. Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry,” Richards shared through TV Line.

Furthermore, he noted that the essence of the podcast was between a long-time group of friends throwing shades and banters at one another, however, the host acknowledged that his idea of ‘funny and provocative,’ was indeed unacceptable.

About The Podcast

Per The Ringer, Richards was a member of a Price Is Right-themed podcast ran by The Randumb Show between 2013 and 2014. Podchaser reports that this comedy podcast was created by South African comedian, Trevor Noah.

It also featured hot-shot hosts like Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Harvey, Joe Rogan, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Aoki, Joyce Meyer, Russell Brand, Kumail Nanjiani, and many more. Within one year, the popular podcast also featured incredible guests like; George Brett, Ash Brown, Angie Dickinson, Metta World Peace, Biff Byford, Fred Van Lente, and so on.

The podcast which covers various topics such as pop culture, music, television, and game shows successfully aired 54 episodes and was a popular comic relief show for fans worldwide. Although serious conversations often came up between hosts and guests, they always found a way to bring happiness out of it.

Twitter Slams ‘New Jeopardy’

When fans are psyched about a celebrity, there is no length they wouldn’t go to, to show support and love. Nevertheless, when they are pissed, it’s similar energy they give off online.

Twitter fans called out “New Jeopardy,” for their part in hiring Richards from a pool of incredible and talented hosts that may not have red flags. They went on to say that the television show should have done a better job of evaluating its hires before giving them a job.

One fan angrily wrote; “Last week Mike Richards wrote that lawsuits from The Price Is Right didn’t ‘reflect the reality of who I am.’ I went looking for who he is, talking to current and former colleagues and listening to a podcast he hosted at Price. What I found was troubling.”

Another tweeted; “Heard folks say LeVar Burton wasn’t as polished as Mike Richards in his Jeopardy! stint. Personally, I believe some people who aren’t a perfect fit immediately have earned the opportunity to settle in. And some people who seem like the perfect fit should be dumped in the trash.”

Fans Call For Mike Richards’ Replacement

According to some Twitter fans, LeVar Burton would do a better job as a host on “New Jeopardy” compared to Richards, and they admonished the game show to drop its current host.

A new poll from Morning Consult disclosed that more fans favor Burton over Richards, and want to see the switch happen as soon as possible. In the poll, American actor, Burton, ranked 14 percent, while Richards got about three percent.

It’s unclear what the game show plans to do after this widespread backlash, but fans are keeping their fingers crossed. Some celebrities also tweeted in favor of Burton, saying that he looked like the perfect fit for the job.

On Twitter, Meghan McCain wrote; “Why couldn’t they just give it to @levarburton like literally everyone on the planet wanted?”

Well, who knows!

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