‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Loses $73,000 After Getting Stumped by Brutal Puzzle
The energy on Tuesday night’s episode of Wheel of Fortune took an unpredictable turn when a contestant nearly let slip a profane word on broadcast television—leaving host Ryan Seacrest in fits of laughter.
Maki Asrat, an enthusiastic player hailing from Brooklyn, New York, captivated the audience during the June 4 broadcast. Competing against Albany, Georgia’s Anthony Monroe and Hartsville, South Carolina’s Jessica Beasley, Asrat took an early lead and immediately established herself as the frontrunner.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
She started the game with incredible momentum, rapidly deciphering the initial two toss-up puzzles—even solving one with just a pair of letters showing on the board. Her vibrant personality and fierce competitiveness were undeniable. During a chat, Asrat mentioned she had recently taken up sewing again following an unsuccessful first try. The crowd adored her genuine nature, and Seacrest was equally charmed.
The American Idol presenter connected with her over touching television memories. Asrat admitted she would often shed tears whenever Idol hopefuls failed to advance to Hollywood. “I still cry when they don’t make it,” Seacrest warmly responded with a smile.
Show host Ryan Seacrest and contestant Maki Asrat in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
However, her journey wasn’t entirely without hiccups. While tackling one puzzle, Asrat first blurted out “Someone’s Watching Me,” but managed to quickly fix her guess to the correct phrase: “Somebody’s Watching Me.” This timely correction earned her a getaway to Cabo San Lucas.
She maintained her hot streak into the Mystery Round. Taking a bold risk, Asrat flipped the Mystery Wedge and added $10,000 to her bank by figuring out “Egg on Your Face Lift.” This boosted her overall earnings to $23,900, giving her a massive lead over her opponents.
In the meantime, Jessica Beasley, who happily discussed her passion for classic automobiles, found her spotlight by conquering the Prize Puzzle—”The Perfect Temperature”—which awarded her a Hawaiian vacation and a Wild Card. This bumped her into the runner-up spot with $12,319. Anthony Monroe, a retired Marine, eventually got his score on the board by solving “Dollar Signs,” finishing the game with $3,200.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Ultimately, Asrat comfortably locked in first place with a grand total of $33,900, punching her ticket to the Bonus Round.
That is when the game took a highly amusing detour.
Selecting the “What Are You Doing?” category, Asrat was given her standard letters (R, S, T, L, N, E) and chose G, H, C, and I as her additions. The board then revealed:
C_ _SING _N _ R _R.
With the clock winding down, Asrat frantically guessed, “Cursing in… Cursing, cursing, cursing and—” but failed to piece together the right words.
Show host Ryan Seacrest and contestant Maki Asrat in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Seacrest burst into laughter at her attempts. “It’s like you’re desperate to say a bad word here,” he quipped.
The actual solution turned out to be: “Causing an Uproar.”
“Sometimes you get stuck on a word and can’t shake it,” Seacrest noted sympathetically, while Asrat giggled at her own mistake.
Even though she lost out on the $40,000 bonus cash, Asrat still walked away with just shy of $34,000 in total prize money—along with a hilarious viral moment that left viewers buzzing.
Sources: TV Insider