Pat Sajak would like to buy an apology.
The “Wheel of Fortune” host teased a contestant about her ichthyophobia, or fear of fish, on the show last week — but later apologized for picking on her.
The 76-year-old host was bursting with questions after the contestant named Ashley Laumb revealed her phobia.
“You don’t like fish. You don’t like to eat them, you don’t like to swim with them?” asked Sajak.
“Nothing, nothing to do with them at all,” confirmed Laumb. “If they’re on a plate or in the water, I am not going to be anywhere near it.”
PsychCentral describes ichthyophobia as “a persistent and irrational fear of fish” in which people “might fear seeing, smelling, touching or eating fish.”
Sajak asked the contestant if the phobia came from a childhood experience, to which Laumb replied, “It’s a long story, Pat. We don’t have time.”
Sajak however didn’t take the bait.
Later on, Laumb moved on to the bonus round of the game show and as Sajak was coming over to congratulate the winner, he turned to another contestant and drew out a plastic fish.
According to a video posted on Instagram, the 76-year-old host was bursting with questions after the contestant named Ashley Laumb revealed her phobia. Wheel of Fortune“Can you do me a favor? I don’t want her to see this, just hold onto this,” said Sajak handing the fish to the contestant.
Laumb was then spotted groaning and covering her eyes but was seemingly laughing.
That’s when Sajak decided to concede and say sorry.
“Ashley, you all right,” asked Sajak. “You’ll forgive me for that, won’t you?”
Sajak asked the contestant if the phobia came from a childhood experience, to which Laumb replied, “It’s a long story, Pat. We don’t have time.”Wheel of Fortune“I might,” she responded, according to Fox News.
Laumb was declared the victor with a whopping $24,250 and managed to solve the bonus puzzle, bringing her grand total to $63,250.
This is not the first time the host has gone bankrupt on the show.
Sajak came under fire after a “cringe” moment when he touched and pulled a man’s beard while on the show.
Later in the show, Laumb moved on to the bonus round of the game show and as Sajak was coming over to congratulate the winner, he turned to another contestant and drew out a plastic fish. Wheel of Fortune“If I come over there, can I tug on it?” Sajak asked before tugging the man’s facial hair. “I’ve never done that, and I will never do it again.”
The host also once snapped at a contestant who attempted to pick up the $1 billion wedge before calling out a letter.
“No, no, no, ba-ba-bo-bop,” snapped Sajak. “Now here’s what you do, you see, you call a letter.”
The Post reached out to Sajak for comment.
“Wheel” fans on social media were mixed about what went down, with some curious about her phobia.
“Hats off to the producers who research the contestant stories for the hosts on ‘Jeopardy’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’. I mean, what can you do with “So Contestant A, I hear you don’t like fish’,” tweeted one user.
“I wanna know more about this gal! Why doesn’t she like fish??? Best contestant yet,” said another person.
“Wow. People can’t take jokes. This world is going mad,” said another.
