'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune': ABC dubbed 'tone deaf' for Chris Harrison episode, fans threaten to boycott show
Chris Harrison has made such a mark with his hosting gig on 'The Bachelor' franchise that fans can't believe ABC would condone the allegedly racist host's presence on a gaming show so soon after the scandal erupted. Harrison, who recently appeared on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' to play for a million dollars that will go to a charity of his choice, was practically booed on social media with most of the flak going ABC's way. Some viewers called out the network for putting the episode's filmed date as a disclaimer and slammed it for 'fascism'. Others wasted no time in announcing that they would boycott the show after this episode.
Harrison was recently dropped from his 20-year-long hosting gig on the reality dating series after he allegedly shared racist sentiments on his interview with Extra. Following snide remarks about tolerating a White contestant's reportedly racist behavior and insisting they deserve another chance, Harrison penned a bare-minimum apology and announced he was temporarily quitting his position as a host.
On Celebrity Wheel of Fortune tonight Chris Harrison was on. So they put up an announcement on the screen that it was recorded in 12/2020. What, is Chris H. supposed to be banished from planet earth? Are they afraid the mob will storm their studios? Insanity. We live in fascism.
— 👩🏼🎨💥Janet💥 (@JanetMLSimons) February 26, 2021
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While talks of ABC getting a permanent or interim new host are rife, Harrison's appearance on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' couldn't have come at a worse time. ABC was however sharp with their disclaimer stating the episode was filmed back in December 2020 before the Harrison scandal erupted, but that wasn't enough for viewers who think this episode should have been shelved for good.
Funnily enough, this episode was supposed to air last week, instead of the one featuring Karamo Brown, Patton Oswalt and Jennie Garth. What's even funnier is ABC thought a week or so would be enough for the outrage against Harrison's racist comments to die down. But clearly, that's far from the reality as viewers are now tweeting, "While I don't normally watch #WheelofFortune or any #BachelorNation show, but Chris Harrison on tonight's #CelebrityWheelOfFortune (even with the on-screen note that the episode was pre-recorded in December 2020) ... is not the best look."
While I don't normally watch #WheelofFortune or any #BachelorNation show, but Chris Harrison on tonight's #CelebrityWheelOfFortune (even with the on-screen note that the episode was pre-recorded in December 2020) ... is not the best look.
— Jason Stack @ 🏠 (@crimsong19) February 26, 2021
A little disappointed that @ABCNetwork decided to air the Celebrity @WheelofFortune with #ChrisHarrison. I’ve been watching this show my entire life. This is the first time I’m boycotting an episode.
— alex...on the net (@alex_on_the_net) February 26, 2021
Hey @abc @WheelofFortune. You had to run episode with Chris Harrison considering like everything going down? Couldn’t pull another episode out of vault?! 🤦♀️#tonedeaf
— Andrea Weber (@hpawebs) February 26, 2021
Chris Harrison winning at Celebrity wheel of fortune makes me ill
— Neill Dickenson 🏳️🌈 (@njchamp722_) February 26, 2021
Another viewer wrote: "A little disappointed that @ABCNetwork decided to air the Celebrity @WheelofFortune with #ChrisHarrison. I’ve been watching this show my entire life. This is the first time I’m boycotting an episode." And most of the fandom resonated with the sentiment: "Hey @abc @WheelofFortune. You had to run episode with Chris Harrison considering like everything going down? Couldn’t pull another episode out of vault?! #tonedeaf." One fan said, "Chris Harrison winning at Celebrity wheel of fortune makes me ill."
'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' airs on Fridays at 8 pm only on ABC.
