'Jeopardy!' Faces Fans' Antisemitism Accusations Over Mayim Bialik Firing

Jeopardy! has been accused of antisemitism by a faction of incensed fans, following the announcement that Mayim Bialik had been dropped as co-host.

Bialik, who had been sharing hosting duties on the primetime show with all-time Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings since 2021, took to Instagram on Friday to share the news that she would not be returning to the lectern for the main program. The Big Bang Theory star's contract was not up at the time the decision was made to drop her from the syndicated show.

"As the holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news," the Blossom star wrote. "Sony has informed that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!"

Bialik went on to state that she was "incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family."

While the post has received more than 90,000 as of press time, Bialik, whose hosting style had often been criticized by Jeopardy! fans, opted to switch off the comments on her announcement. Newsweek has contacted representatives of Jeopardy! and Bialik via email for comment about the antisemitism claims.

The verified Jeopardy! account followed up with its own announcement on Instagram, stating that Bialik "has announced she will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!

"We made the decision to have one host of the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated Jeopardy!."

The statement added that the show executives "are truly grateful for all of Mayim's contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials."

The post was met with a wave of comments accusing Jeopardy! of antisemitic behavior toward Bialik. In recent months, she has been using her social-media platform to speak out in support of Israelis amid the nation's ongoing conflict with Hamas.

"Antisemitism is not a good look on you," posted one detractor. "Mayim is Jewish and she have every right to defend her people without losing her job."

"Seriously?!" another wrote. "Now that Jewish people need your support more than ever, you decide to fire her for standing up against antisemitism during one of the hardest times for Jewish people in history? SHAME on you!"

"Category: Jew hate. Clue: firing someone talented because she against terror," a third commented, taking inspiration from the Jeopardy! clue style.

"She was the only reason to watch your show anyway," said another. "So much easier to say goodbye, understanding you're anti Jewish. We support you Mayim."

Others supported the decision to let Bialik go, with one fan writing that "Ken Jennings is a literal genius. And he's become really good at hosting. Def[initely] the host for the next 40 years."

Another said they were a fan of Bialik "until she started calling posts from innocent Gaza victims 'propaganda,' yet fails to recognize the propaganda the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] puts out there to justify their international war crimes."

"Ken Jennings deserves the role, you can tell he was born for it and was a natural," wrote another Jeopardy! viewer. "Mayim was never a good fit and seemed like she was pretending the whole time."

Bialik recently divided opinion when she took to social media to share the final messages of a victim of the Hamas attacks on Israeli settlements. In an emotional video, she read out "text messages sent from the last moments of people's lives in Israel."

While many supported her for speaking out, her decision to share only messages from a victim from Israel, and no Palestinians, sparked backlash.

Beloved presenter Alex Trebek served as Jeopardy! host for the show's premiere in syndication in 1984. He would hold the position until 2020, when he died at age 80—more than a year after announcing that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

From January 2021 until August of that year, viewers watched as a revolving door of celebrity guest hosts stepped in to try out for the coveted presenter role, with the show's then-executive producer, Mike Richards, subsequently landing the job. At the time, Bialik was named as host of Jeopardy! specials and spinoffs.

Richards lost his roles as both host and executive producer within days, amid backlash over comments he made on a now-defunct podcast. Bialik subsequently stepped in to host the main show and was later joined by Jennings.

Bialik wrote in her September 2021 essay for Newsweek that she felt "very honored to have been given the responsibility and the opportunity to step up into this hosting position. It's been as dreamy as it was for the two days that I guest hosted."

It was confirmed in July 2022 that Bialik and Jennings had signed Jeopardy! contracts after sharing the duties as interim hosts of the show for much of Season 38. The pair have, on occasion, switched places on the main show and specials.

Earlier this year, it was widely reported that Bialik walked off the Los Angeles set of the show in May as a gesture of solidarity with striking writers, who were protesting contracts and pay structures. Jennings returned to replace Bialik for the remainder of last season during the strike, which came to an end late September.

During an appearance on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast in August 2022, Bialik spoke about how she deals with online backlash from fans of the show.

"We're still people, so I can't say that when you hear things that are constructive criticism that you don't start thinking a little bit too much about it," Bialik said. "But, I don't know, I kind of take everybody's opinion both with a grain of salt and also believe everybody has a right to their opinion."

In June 2022, Bialik opened up about being on the receiving end of harsh comments from some Jeopardy! fans before being announced as a permanent host. Speaking with Justin Long on an episode of her podcast, the TV personality revealed that viewers often compare her to Jennings.

Actor and comedian Long broached the subject when he asked Bialik if she was ever made aware that she was favored over Jennings by Jeopardy! fans.

"Sometimes," Bialik said, adding that "sometimes I get, 'We don't prefer you to Ken.'"