Okay folks you know Jeopardy! right? It's usually all about smarts facts and a little bit of friendly competition. But recently the game show landed in some hot water and it's all thanks to one clue about guess who? Kanye West. Yep that's right Yeezy himself.
The Clue That Started It All: 808s & Heartbreak and a Whole Lotta Drama
So here's what happened. During a recent episode a contestant picked a $1200 clue in Double Jeopardy! under the category "The Song of Roland Drum Machines". Host Ken Jennings read out the clue which was: "The title of his album ‘808s & Heartbreak’ refers to the death of his mother Donda and to the Roland TR-808 used on the songs."
Boom just like that the internet started buzzing . Contestant Alex DeFrank got the answer right – "Who is Kanye West?" – but for some viewers the question itself felt totally wrong. Why? Well it's pretty obvious if you have been paying attention to Kanye in the news lately.
Backlash City: Fans Furious Over Kanye Clue Given Recent Controversies
The main issue? Kanye has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. We're talking antisemitic remarks you know really offensive stuff. He even went full-on "Nazi" online. So for some fans seeing Jeopardy! feature a clue about him just felt…off.
Over on Reddit people were not holding back. One fan wrote "That’s the fourth Kanye clue this year. Make it stop." Another viewer suggested the clue needed a disclaimer saying it was filmed "before he declared himself a literal Nazi." Ouch. Some even wondered if Jeopardy! should just avoid clues about "bad living people" altogether bringing up Bill Cosby as an example of someone who has been seemingly removed from Jeopardy! clues after his controversies.
But Wait Some Fans Defended the Kanye Clue - Here's Why
It wasn't all outrage though. Some viewers actually defended Jeopardy! for including the Kanye clue. One fan wrote "I don’t see the issue with including him in clues. There are tons of bad people in clues." They argued that Kanye is still a significant figure in music history and one Jeopardy! clue is not really "promoting" his actions or giving him a platform.
Another viewer pointed out that Jeopardy! clues often feature dictators and "war criminals" so including someone just because they are "awful" is not really new territory. Plus some fans noted the episode was likely filmed before Kanye's most recent and extreme online behavior. Basically some folks think it's just a trivia question about a famous musician and people might be overreacting a bit.
Kanye's Controversial Timeline: A Quick Reminder of Why People Are Upset
Just in case you missed it here's a super quick recap of some of the stuff Kanye has been in the news for that sparked this whole Jeopardy! clue backlash :
- Antisemitic Remarks: Kanye has made multiple antisemitic statements online and in interviews some of them really extreme and hurtful.
- "Nazi" Comments: Yes he actually declared "I love Hitler" online and identified as a Nazi. Seriously.
- Swastika Merch: He even tried to sell t-shirts with swastikas on them. Hard to believe right?
- Kim K Accusations: He also made some wild and unfounded accusations against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian including a bizarre sex-trafficking claim.
- Erratic Behavior: Reports have suggested Kanye's behavior might be linked to nitrous oxide use adding another layer of concern.
So yeah it's been a lot. And that's why a simple Jeopardy! clue about his music ended up triggering such a big reaction.
The Big Question: Should Jeopardy! Feature Clues About Controversial Figures?
This whole Kanye clue thing really brings up a bigger question. Where do you draw the line? Should Jeopardy! avoid clues about people who have done or said awful things even if they are culturally significant? Is it "giving them a platform" or just testing knowledge of facts?
There is no easy answer and clearly Jeopardy! fans are pretty divided on this one. Some think it's just trivia others think it's insensitive and maybe even irresponsible to feature someone like Kanye right now. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!