Wheel of Fortune Backlash After “Outdated” Bonus Round Answer

A recent Wheel of Fortune rerun has sparked major controversy after contestant Amy Johnston lost out on a $40,000 bonus because of what fans call an “ancient” phrase.

During the May 21 episode, re-aired on August 20, Johnston faced the final puzzle in the category What Are You Doing?. After choosing her letters, the board revealed:

_ _ _ _ NG T O _ ER NO_

Despite multiple attempts, Johnston couldn’t solve it. Host Ryan Seacrest then revealed the answer: “Faxing it over now.”

Johnston laughed in disbelief, admitting: “I don’t even know what faxing means!”

Viewers quickly took to social media to vent. One wrote, “Seriously? Who even says that anymore? My grandma does, and she’s 90!” Another added, “That’s not fair at all. Nobody uses fax machines in 2025.”

Fans argued that puzzles should reflect modern terms like “emailing it now.”

Though Johnston still won $28,539, many say this puzzle shows the show is stuck in the past.