Another episode of Wheel of Fortune has sparked debate among viewers, with many fans criticizing a bonus round puzzle they considered unusually difficult.
The controversy arose during the February 14 episode when contestant Conner Kemmsies, a commercial pilot from California, advanced to the bonus round after winning $19,080 in cash and prizes, including a whale-watching cruise to Baja California.
In the final round, the category was “Phrase.” After the standard letters and Conner’s additional selections were revealed, the puzzle appeared as:
_ D _ D M _ _ _ M E _ _ R _
Conner quickly solved the beginning—”I DID MY”—but was unable to complete the puzzle before time expired. The correct answer was: “I DID MY HOMEWORK.”
After the round, Conner joked with host Ryan Seacrest, “I don’t do homework anymore. I’m not in school now.”
The puzzle immediately generated mixed reactions online. Some viewers argued that “I did my homework” felt more like a simple sentence than a commonly recognized phrase, calling the puzzle unfair. Others disagreed, saying the answer was straightforward once the first words were identified.
Fans also renewed criticism of the show’s bonus prize wheel after Conner’s envelope revealed the show’s minimum bonus prize of $40,000. Some longtime viewers questioned why the wheel appears to land on the minimum amount so frequently, while others defended the game’s format.
As has often been the case with Wheel of Fortune, the episode prompted lively discussion among fans about puzzle difficulty and game mechanics, with opinions sharply divided over whether the final puzzle was fair or overly challenging.
