Ken Jennings Apologizes After Clue Ignites Backlash

Ken Jennings has issued an apology following a controversial clue on the popular game show, Jeopardy!. The incident has ignited backlash from fans who felt the wording of the clue was misleading.

Ken Jennings Responds to Fan Backlash

On Friday, October 24, Jeopardy! featured a category titled “Daddy is there really a…”. The clue presented was “No: A.I. Generated The TikTok Image of this pig/human eventually killed by Tim Cheese.” Notably, none of the contestants responded to the clue, which referred to a viral internet character known as John Pork.

Understanding John Pork

• John Pork is depicted as a human-pig hybrid.
• His character combines a man’s body with a pig’s head in the digitally created image.
• A TikTok trend of “RIP John Pork” humorously claimed he had “died.”

Despite the trends, there is a misconception regarding his status. In 2023, rumors circulated about his supposed demise, but he continues to post videos on TikTok.

Jeopardy! Issues Apology

Following the airing of the clue and the subsequent uproar, Jennings took to TikTok to address the situation. He remarked, “When we played a clue recently on Jeopardy! about John Pork, I remarked that ‘I didn’t understand a word of it.’” Jennings acknowledged that his initial understanding of John Pork had evolved since the clue aired.

He continued, “Some viewers took exception with our description of him as AI-generated. While AI is used heavily in many of his TikToks, it’s possible that wasn’t the best wording to refer to his original appearances.” Jennings expressed hope that John Pork would forgive the game show for any potential offense.

Mixed Reactions from Fans

Fans were quick to comment on Jennings’ reference to “the late Mr. Pork,” leading to confusion. Many users on social media expressed surprise and concern over the apparent declaration of his death. Comments included:

• “No way. This is how I found out John Pork died.”
• “‘The late Mr. Pork’ is absolutely diabolical .”
• “John Pork died? I didn’t even know he was sick.”

Jeopardy! continues to air on weekdays, and new episodes can be streamed the following day on Hulu and Peacock.