Danger! Guest host Ken Jennings has apologized for ‘insensitive’ tweets he posted in the past, after being slammed for making proficient comments.
The 46-year-old quiz champion – who replaces the late television icon Alex Trebek on the game show after his death last month – took to Twitter on Thursday to discuss previous ‘failed’ jokes he’d made on the microblogging platform.
He wrote: ‘Hey, I just wanted to admit that over the years on Twitter I’ve definitely tweeted some thoughtless and insensitive stuff. Sometimes they worked like jokes in my head and I was shocked to see how they read on the screen.
Apology: Danger! guest host Ken Jennings has apologized for ‘insensitive’ tweets he posted in the past, after being slammed for making skillful comments
In the past, I usually left bad tweets so they could be submerged. That way, they could at least lead to smart answers and even advocacy. Its removal felt like a mistake to make up for.
But I think that exercise may have given the impression that I’m behind every botched joke I’ve ever posted here. Not at all!’
While Jennings didn’t specifically refer to any particular posts, he acknowledged that he “ screwed up ” and pledged to be “ kinder ” to others by 2021.
He continued: ‘Sometimes I said stupid things in a stupid way and I want to apologize to people who were (rightly!) Offended. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, but it doesn’t matter: I screwed up, and I’m really sorry.
Failed: Jennings – who replaces late TV icon Alex Trebek (pictured) on game show after his death – took to Twitter on Thursday to discuss his previous ‘failed’ jokes
Kinder Approach: While Jennings didn’t specifically refer to certain posts, he acknowledged that he ‘screwed up’ and pledged to be ‘kinder’ to others in 2021
‘If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we should be kinder to each other. With that in mind, I look forward to entering 2021. (sic) ‘
A month before his apology, Jennings was the center of much outrage over a resurfacing tweet he posted in 2014 about “ hot ” people in wheelchairs.
“Nothing more sad than a hot person in a wheelchair,” Jennings wrote at the time.
Jennings, who has since deleted the tweet, focused on the insensitive post in 2018, but the post has regained steam in light of his upcoming hosting role.
Danger! record holder: quiz champion Jennings has won 74 games of the game show in a row
Resurfacing: His 2014 tweet first surfaced in 2018, and Jennings spoke about it at the time
Jennings said in 2018 that he “personally” apologized to those who contacted him about the tweet, which he called a “clumsy” joke.
“ I have never done a public flogging for this, but I have personally apologized to angry / hurt people who contacted personally, ” he tweeted at the time.
“It was a joke so clumsy it meant something completely different in my head and I regret reading it understandably!”
With the tweet resurfacing, Jennings faced the ire of angry Twitter users, hurt and upset over his original post.
Renewed Outrage: Jennings faced renewed outrage over the tweet when he was announced as one of Jeopardy’s incoming guest hosts
Objections: Twitter users flooded the microblogging platform with their objections last month
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown even weighed in on the controversy when she posted a link to announce his guest hosting role. “No,” she tweeted along with the story.
When asked why Yvette didn’t like the selection, she replied, “Look at his old tweets and contact me.”
Jennings was announced as the first of a line of guest hosts to replace Trebek just a few days ago.
An official tweet revealed: ‘We will resume production on 11/30 with a series of interim guest hosts from the Jeopardy! family – starting with Ken Jennings. Additional guest hosts are announced. ‘
Quiz: Jennings was largely celebrated for his memorable role on the long-running show
Unimpressed: Actress Yvette Nicole Brown even weighed in on the controversy when she posted a link announcing his guest hosting role. “No,” she tweeted along with the story
Jennings has 74 games of Jeopardy! in a row and claimed the show’s ‘Greatest Of All Time’ title in a competition last year.
A long-term host to Trebek, who passed away at the age of 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer last month, will be named later.
Last month, Jennings paid tribute to Trebek when he was announced as the program’s new guest host.
He said at the time, “There will only be one Alex Trebek, but I’m honored to help Jeopardy! this out in January. ‘
Icon: Alex Trebek died at the age of 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer last month