The woman at the center the latest Wheel of Fortune controversy is speaking out.
Over the last several days, people on social media have been calling for the competition show to make things right with contestant, Megan Carvale.
There is no question, she absolutely said "pink orchid". Please give this girl her winnings! @WheelofFortune @PatOnWheel @TheVannaWhite @MaggieSajak #wheel #wheeloffortune #justiceforpinkorchid Rooting for you, Megan! pic.twitter.com/muiRlMCMLy
— ashley june (@ashleeeeeejune) January 31, 2024
As the video making its rounds shows, Carvale beat the three other contestants on her episode in order to participate in the final round. As time was up, Carvale was only able to decipher the second word of the puzzle as “orchid.”
However, when it came to the first word, Carvale seemingly mumbled “something orchid” and “pony orchid,” none of which were the correct answer. Nonetheless, as viewers watched the episode from their homes, many people argued that when Carvale said “something orchid” she actually said “pink orchid,” which was the correct answer.
When the judges ultimately decided not to give her her $40,000 grand prize, people took to social media to defend Carvale, believe she said the correct answer.
Ok. Totally a retract. I thought she said "Pink Orchid", but she said "Something Orchid" . Literally 14 rewinds. Sorry, lol. @WheelofFortune
— Jodi Shely (@jodishely) January 31, 2024
Now, Carvale herself is speaking out. Did she in fact say pink orchid, or did she say something else.
“You know, I wish I said ‘pink’ because I would have been $40,000 richer,” Carvale revealed to Good Morning America. “But I said ‘something.'”
And when asked how she feels about the hold she has over the American people right now, Carvale admits it hasn’t been fun reliving her loss over and over again.
“My son, the entire way home, because my 8-year-old son was in the audience with me and the whole way home — we live in Orange County — the whole way home from LA, [he said], ‘Mom, I can’t believe you didn’t get pink. I can’t believe you didn’t get pink.’ That word has already been haunting me and now all of America believes that I said it but I didn’t.”
In the end, Carvale, who admitted she had a blast on the show despite the devastating loss, took home $14,007 in winnings, which is still nothing to scoff at.