Ken Jennings, known for hosting the quiz show “Jeopardy!”, became the center of an online debate following a sarcastic retort regarding calls from transgender activists to boycott The New York Times’ games and products.
On the social media platform Bluesky, Jennings shared screenshots of the New York Times’ game Spelling Bee, alongside a note saying, “My wife and I have a game where we try to invent the day’s grossest-sounding word on NYT Spelling Bee.” This sparked a clash when a user criticized him, stating, “I wish people who care about trans people could understand that playing nyt games is still an insult to trans people.”
Responding to the criticism, Jennings joked that he received “express permission from the trans community” to continue enjoying NYT games and recipes. He added mockingly, “They were like ‘Trans people are not a monolith’ and ‘Like-minded allies may disagree on specific media boycotts’ and stuff like that.”
The user replied seriously, noting disappointment in Jennings trivializing their concerns and expressing hope that he would understand the reasons for the upset reactions. On the platform, commenters told Jennings to “read the f—ing room,” urging him to apologize.
Journalist Jesse Singal spoke about the situation, suggesting the outrage might reflect the platform dynamics more than the average sentiment. Singal described Bluesky as a space where extreme views often coalesce, leading to tense interactions and polarizations.
Transgender activists have long criticized The New York Times for its perceived anti-trans coverage. In 2023, a substantial number of contributors and subscribers signed a letter condemning the outlet’s treatment of transgender topics, supported by the advocacy group GLAAD’s call for unbiased coverage.
Despite having shown support for transgender rights previously, Jennings found himself at odds with activists. His views surfaced in July 2025, when he criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom’s stance on transgender athletes in girls’ sports. Jennings argued any candidate compromising on trans issues should be considered unacceptable.
Fox News Digital sought a statement from Jennings regarding the incident but received no immediate response.
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