‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Slam Ryan Seacrest After Contestant’s Response Is Texas Mess

Wheel of Fortune Fans are questioning whether a contestant’s answer should have been credited in Wednesday’s (Nov. 6) episode, despite their mispronunciation of a Texas city. And many say that host Ryan Seacrest it was wrong to accept the answer.

The contestant in question was Alicia Sagle, a school nurse and fitness instructor from Red Wing, Minnesota, who got the money in the first round’s “On The Map” category despite her garbled pronunciation of Lubbock.

Sagle was in control of the wheel when she chose to solve the puzzle, which read “Dallas, Houston and Lubbock, Texas.” However, she messed up pronouncing the name of the last town and called it “Loo-bock” instead of “Lubbock.” Regardless, host Ryan Seacrest accepted the answer and awarded Sagle the $1,900.

This luck would stay with Sagle throughout the game as she continued to make money and also bag a trip to New York City. Ultimately, she won the episode with $22,020 cash and advanced to the bonus round.

However, some viewers couldn’t get over the “Lubbock” controversy and took to social media to debate Seacrest’s decision to accept the answer.

“I wouldn’t have accepted that Lubbock Wheel of Fortune mutilation,” one X user wrote.

I wouldn’t have accepted that mutilation of Lubbock, the Wheel of Fortune.

— Rocco C. (@ElRocco337) November 7, 2024

“Yes, not acceptable,” agreed another.

“Stormed out of the room when Ryan Seacrest accepted “LOO-BACH” for Lubbock, Texas on Wheel of Fortune,” said another.

Another added: “Lue-Bock vs. Lubbock. Who pronounces it how? Let yourself be known.”

Meanwhile, a fan is on Wheel of Fortune Reddit forum wrote, “I was surprised they gave her that puzzle in tonight’s episode. In the past, they would not give credit to an incorrect pronunciation. ”

“As a Texan, I agree,” one commenter responded.

That said, not everyone was so harsh on Sagle’s mispronunciation. A fan on

Others were simply amused, with one viewer writing: “Haha LOOObock, Texas. It sounds chic.”

“Lady pronounced Lubbock ‘loo-bach’ on the wheel of fortune and if I didn’t have a sleeping baby in my arms I would cacklekkkkkkle,” said another.

The controversial ruling comes after Monday’s episode (November 4).in which Seacrest accepted a contestant’s answer of “Expresso martini” instead of the correct answer: “Espresso Martini.”

As for Sagle, her luck ran out in the bonus round when she selected the “What are you doing?” category along with the additional letters “D, C, G, and O.” This left her with a three-word puzzle that read: “_ _ _ _ NG / T _ E / RO _ ND S.”

Sagle struggled with the first word, guessing “boxing,” “mobbing” and “mailing” before the timer ran out. Co-host Vanna White then turned the letters to reveal the correct answer, which was ‘Making The Rounds’.

Seacrest opened the prize envelope and revealed that Sagle had missed out on an additional $40,000. Still, she walked away with $22,000, a trip to New York and the knowledge of how to pronounce Lubbock correctly.