“Jeopardy!” contestants are having an interesting week so far. Not only did one contestant mistake Chaka Khan for Shaka Zulu, another contestant has now mistaken Janet Jackson for Ariana Grande — even after viewing video footage of Jackson performing.
On Wednesday’s (April 29) episode, Alwin Hui selected the Billboard Music Awards category for $800. Host Alex Trebek then read aloud, “As the recipient of the 2018 Icon Award, she took ‘Control’ and took to the stage in her first live TV performance in nearly a decade.” Next, a 10-second clip aired of Jackson performing her 1986 hit “Nasty” at the awards show.
Hui, a consultant from Washington, D.C., buzzed in first and guessed, “Who is Ariana Grande?” The answer was, of course, incorrect. Sarah Jett Rayburn, one of Hui’s competitors, then buzzed in and gave the correct answer. Rayburn went on to win her fourth consecutive episode and left with a total of $89,300.
The moment immediately went viral on social media and fans couldn’t believe how a mix up between the “That’s The Way Love Goes” singer and Grande would even occur.
Twitter user @iamreneejai tweeted, “First it’s a mixup between Shaka Zulu and Chaka Khan-now this guy mistook Janet Jackson for Ariana Grande. What a strange week it’s been on #Jeopardy.”
Twitter user @SydneyBattle wrote, “A MAN ON JEOPARDY JUST WATCHED A VIDEO OF JANET JACKSON PERFORMING AND THEN INCORRECTLY GUESSED THAT IT WAS “ARIANA GRANDE” whaaaaaaaaT is happening???!!”
Social media user @Tmusiclover1 tweeted, “When the guy on #jeopardy answers the question [with] the answer of Ariana Grande [with] a live video of the Queen Janet Jackson! Not a Question or a picture! They show a live video from 2018 & he answers Ariana Grande?!! I guess the ponytail confused him! Who teaching theses kids 2day?”
Check out the cringeworthy moment below.