Fans of Wheel of Fortune express outrage over what they perceive as an 'injustice' after a contestant was declared the winner despite providing an 'incorrect' answer.

2025-03-13 13:57:54 By Mary Johnson

ryan seacrest records the january 10, 2025 episode of wheel of fortune

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Did the judges make the correct decision during Kiana's puzzle? Photo credit: @wheeloffortune/Instagram

Wheel of Fortune watchers are up in arms after a contestant was awarded a win they deemed incorrect.

The episode of Wheel of Fortune that aired on January 10 showcased contestants Kiana Moreland, Frankie Allocca, and Cara Green.

In the evening's third game, Kiana, Frankie, and Cara were given the chance to tackle a puzzle from the "Living Things" category.

Kiana successfully completed the puzzle titled “Aardvarks and Antelopes,” earning herself a prize of $1950.

Nonetheless, the manner in which she phrased her solution to the puzzle has sparked discussions among Wheel watchers about whether she deserved to be disqualified instead of receiving the victory.

When Kiana decided she was ready to solve the puzzle, she phrased it as a question, asking host Ryan Seacrest, “Is it Aardvarks and Antelopes?”

Fans of Wheel of Fortune are engaged in a lively discussion over the validity of Kiana's response.

A viewer of Wheel of Fortune took to Reddit following the episode to criticize the judges' ruling, arguing that Kiana ought to have been disqualified for her answer.

"I was completely convinced that the judges would declare her answer wrong, but after Ryan's unusually long pause, he revealed that she was actually right! What the heck?!" u/caleyco complained.

"I always believed that the concept of 'adding extra words' applied to all puzzles," they went on, describing the situation as "an injustice the world has never encountered before!!"

wheel of fortune fan posts on reddit about an "injustice"

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A frustrated Wheel of Fortune viewer believed that Kiana deserved to be disqualified. Image source: u/caleyco/Reddit.

The comments section quickly filled up with opinions from other Wheel enthusiasts, who shared their thoughts on the confusion surrounding the rule.

A Reddit user speculated that because Kiana hadn't begun to articulate the real solution to the puzzle and hadn't genuinely inserted any additional words into the middle or at the end of her answer, she was safe from any repercussions.

As noted by a fellow Wheel of Fortune enthusiast, contestants are not allowed to insert extra words when solving their puzzles; if they do, they must begin again without pause in order to secure their victory.

wheel of fortune fans debate a rule on reddit

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Participants in the Wheel of Fortune community discussed the regulations surrounding the phrasing used to solve puzzles. Image source: u/caleyco/Reddit.

"It doesn't occur frequently, but the regulations do include a clause that permits situations like this," commented u/survivorfan95.

Here’s what the rules of Wheel of Fortune state regarding how to solve a puzzle.

As u/rejectmariosonic posted, the official Wheel of Fortune Live website shares the rules online.

According to the section named “Solving The Puzzle” on the website, it states, “Typically, participants should refrain from including any additional sounds or words that are not present in the puzzle. Generally, a solution will be deemed accurate as long as no letters have been added or removed.”

wheel of fortune's puzzle-solving rules per its website

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Wheel of Fortune outlines the guidelines for solving puzzles in an online format. Image source: www.wheeloffortunelive.com/rules

Moreover, participants will not face disqualification for incorporating “‘it’s a’ or ‘it’s an’ into the puzzle when responding to the host’s inquiries such as ‘What is it?’ or ‘What are we searching for?’, or any similar phrasing…”

Kiana achieved significant success even after experiencing a loss in the Bonus Round.

No matter the opinions of Wheel of Fortune fans, Ryan Seacrest and the judging panel declare Kiana the victor.

Kiana's impressive performance secured her a sought-after spot in the Bonus Round, with her category being "What Are You Doing?"

Despite her diligent attempts, Kiana couldn't come up with the correct response, “Having A Few Laughs,” which ultimately cost her the $100,000 grand prize.

By the day's conclusion, Kiana's performance in the game turned out to be quite successful; she collected $19,290 in cash, won an African safari through Overseas Adventure Travel, and received a unique present from Ryan Seacrest.

Wheel of Fortune shared a clip of Kiana’s post-game appearance on Instagram in a Reel captioned, “You know we had to make sure Kiana had a little #WheelOfFortune memento to add to her collection! Do you collect anything?! 👀.”

In the video, Kiana shared that she has a passion for collecting shot glasses from various places around the globe. Additionally, her family and friends contribute to her collection by bringing her unique finds from their travels.

Kiana felt fortunate when Ryan revealed a new shot glass from his jacket pocket, adding it to her growing collection.

Ryan playfully remarked, “We’ve got a tiny closet tucked away back there at Wheel of Fortune,” as he handed the glass to Kiana.

"We discovered a new addition for your collection," Ryan remarked.

Kiana was grateful for his thoughtful gesture and expressed her thanks to Ryan for the unexpected keepsake.

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A Hatch Restore 2 sleep machine that isn't just a sunrise alarm clock — it's also a nightlight and a white noise machine, so it can help improve every single part of your sleep routine. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "The Hatch has changed how I sleep in the best way. Never felt more refreshed waking up. It is a little pricey, but other than that, this is a great product. I don’t pay for the Hatch subscription, but the free tools are more than enough for me!" —Brynn Price: $169.99 8. A Kitsch satin pillowcase, because satin pillowcases can help you cut down on hair frizz and breakage, especially if you have color-treated or chemically damaged hair. Plus, satin pillowcases are less likely to make you wake up with weird creases on your face than cotton ones. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "When I wake up in the morning, my hair looks good, and these pillowcases are very comfortable to sleep on." —Chris Price: $18.99 (available in six colors) 9. A cold brew coffee maker that can whip up a quart of java, in an airtight container that keeps it fresh for up to two weeks. (Also, if you take two whole weeks to drink just a quart of coffee...please, teach me your caffeine-minimalist ways.) View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "So great for making your own cold brew! Easy to clean, makes several cups, and [you] can leave [it] in the fridge!!" —xoxo413 Price: $19.49 (originally $25.99) 10. A seven-piece set of packing cubes, so that the next time you travel, you can actually make the most of your space — a biggie, now that airlines are charging approximately $100,000 for every checked bag. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Great way to pack and stay super organized. I used them to help my kids start packing on their own. The clothes stayed organized while on vacation, too!" —Laura W Price: $49.99 (available in two colors) 11. An adorable puppy spoon-holder that works equally well sitting on the counter or clipped to a pot's edge. Now that deserves a treat and a belly rub. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Makes cooking much easier when trying to place my spoon somewhere! Keeps the spoon off the counter and in a secure place until needed to stir. It's nice that I can sit it on the edge of the pot and hold the spoon there as well. Super cute for just sitting on the counter when not in use!" —Kristen Price: $9.99 12. A rotating bathroom organizer so you can finally clean up that cluttered mess of bottles that are teetering ever-so-unsteadily on the edge of your counter. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "I love this for easy storage on my bathroom counter while also looking cute. It easily rotates to allow me to access other items on it. I hate the clutter of having several items on a counter, this helps to eliminate that cluttered look." —phenollux Price: $20 13. A retro-chic, Bluetooth-compatible AM/FM radio and speaker, because you shouldn't have to mess up your perfect vintage home aesthetic just because you want to play some music while you do dishes. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "I love the look of this portable radio, better in person than in the pictures. I wanted something small but aesthetically appealing and this checks all the boxes. I love that I can change it and then move around. Definitely worth it!" —ncam Price: $39.99 14. A clip-on reading light with a flexible neck and four brightness settings, so you can stay up reading that mystery novel long after your partner has gone to sleep (also, not to spoil, but: the neighbor totally did it). View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Love it! I use this almost every day for about 30 minutes before bed. I appreciate that it has various levels of brightness and the neck can bend in any direction. Super handy if you’re a nighttime reader!" —ladylove123 Price: $13 15. An Ember smart mug that will keep your coffee or tea warm no matter how long it takes you to drink it. Using the connected app, you can keep your drink at your preferred temperature for two hours — or even longer if you place it on the included coaster. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Delivered quick! Great purchase for coffee/tea lovers! Can connect to the app on your phone, color and quality of the Ember mug gives that sleek professional feeling. Love it!" —Katie Price: $149.99 16. A boucle storage ottoman with a tray top, so you can spiff up your living room, hide your extra throws and pillows, and have a place to set down your after-work cocktail all at once. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Looks so beautiful and high-end in person, my husband even said it looks super expensive [and] nice." —Erica Price: $130 17. A 2-quart air fryer that's perfect for folks who live on their own or anyone who is looking for a way to get their snacks perfectly crisp. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "I bought this to start making lunch at work, and it’s perfect. It doesn’t take up too much space, it’s super easy to use, and it’s very easy to clean." —Kia Price: $29.99 (available in three colors) 18. A car backseat organizer, because if your 2025 resolution is to finally get a handle on all the umbrellas, tissue boxes, water bottles, tote bags, and snacks floating around your back seat...the solution has arrived. Plus, if you have any little backseat passengers, the organizer has a spot to hold a tablet. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Love this organizer! So many pockets to keep things neat and organized and at the ready! The tablet screen holder is a nice touch!" —Alex Price: $13 19. An "Introvert" scented candle to fill your home with the scent of vanilla while you experience JOMO (joy of missing out). View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "Smells amazing, and it looks like a candle you’d buy from Anthropologie for four times the price." —Mkomar200 Price: $10 20. A Nintendo Switch, because it's great for family together time...or alone time. Basically, any time you want to play some fun games. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Objective Promising review: "We like the Switch so far! I like having controller options. Obviously, the graphics get better and better with every Nintendo update. So far, we’ve purchased Mario Kart, Luigi’s Mansion, and Super Mario Odyssey. It’s something fun my husband and I like to do together. Great purchase!" —Mandy Price: $299.99

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DirectX is introducing a groundbreaking approach to PC gaming through the use of neural rendering technology.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Epic Games Microsoft has announced that neural rendering capabilities are coming to DirectX soon. Cooperative vector support, as it’s called, will lead to “cross-platform enablement of neural rendering techniques,” according to Microsoft, and it will usher in “a new paradigm in 3D graphics programming.” It sounds buzzy, but that’s not without reason. This past week, Nvidia announced its new range of RTX 50-series graphics cards, and along with them, it revealed a slate of neural rendering features. Neural shaders, as Nvidia calls them, allow developers to execute small neural networks from shader code, running them on the dedicated AI hardware available on Nvidia, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm GPUs. Microsoft is saying that it will enable these features on all GPUs, not just those sold by Nvidia, through the DirectX API. Microsoft is achieving this by implementing cooperative vector support, which the company claims “significantly enhances the efficiency of neural rendering methods.” This feature permits matrix multiplication to be executed directly from shader code—the instructions that your GPU runs—enabling neural networks to operate independently of the GPU brand. Currently, all leading GPU manufacturers offer specialized AI hardware, and cooperative vectors will empower developers to leverage that hardware via shader code. Receive your weekly breakdown of the technology that powers PC gaming. Cross-vendor support for neural shaders is a big deal. In generations past, Nvidia maintained a closed system of middleware dubbed GameWorks that would only work on Nvidia graphics cards. The suite included features like PhysX in games like and as well as HairWorks in games like and  With broad neural rendering support through DirectX, it will hopefully encourage developers to include neural shaders without fear of locking out certain players. Nvidia has already demonstrated the capabilities of neural rendering with features such as the Neural Radiance Cache, which uses a neural network to infer light bounces in a path-traced scene, enhancing both the visual quality and performance of games that feature path tracing. Despite the recent announcement of DirectX, it will be some time before we witness neural rendering features in video games. Nvidia and Microsoft are currently in the early stages of developing these innovative rendering methods, meaning it may take a few years before we encounter a game utilizing compact neural networks via shader code. However, the possibilities are immense, and these advancements could lead to a significant evolution in rendering capabilities, especially with support from GPUs across various manufacturers.

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Fact Check: Did Dolly Parton successfully acquire TikTok to prevent its ban in the US?

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. A trending video has surfaced, asserting that Dolly Parton has successfully acquired TikTok and intends to launch a new feature called Dolly Talk within the app (Terry Wyatt/WireImage, Getty Images). BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE: TikTok’s fate in the United States is now in the hands of the Supreme Court and it's not looking good for the content creation app. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the law that could ban the app in the US. Notably, the law, signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024, requires TikTok to be sold off from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a US ban, according to CNN. In an urgent submission to the Supreme Court, TikTok stated that if the law is not halted, it “will come into force on January 19, 2025, resulting in the shutdown of TikTok for over 170 million American users each month.” Amidst all this, a rumor has made its way online claiming that Dolly Parton has won the bid to buy TikTok. But is there any truth to this? Let's find out. Assertion: Dolly Parton successfully acquired TikTok through a winning bid. A TikTok video went viral on January 7, Tuesday, claiming that Dolly Parton won the bid to buy TikTok. It was posted by @newstomakeyoulaugh and has so far garnered more than 17K likes, according to Distractify. In a viral video, the iconic country music star famous for her beloved track 'Jolene' revealed her venture into social media. When questioned about her intentions for the platform, Dolly quipped, "Oh, sweetie, I just couldn’t let Trump have all the excitement to himself..." View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Dolly Parton takes the stage during the kickoff event for CMA Fest: A Special Discussion with Dolly Parton, moderated by Rachel Smith, held at the Music City Center in Nashville on June 6, 2024 (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images). The video also suggested that Parton intended to launch a new feature in the app called Dolly Talk, which would allow users to recreate videos dressed in her signature outfits and wigs, according to the source. The video suggested that Donald Trump was reportedly "brooding" at his Palm Beach estate following his defeat in the race against Parton. Additionally, the viral TikTok video featured a message from Parton in which she expressed her heartfelt thanks to all those who have stood by her. Incorrect: The viral TikTok video is not genuine. While the viral clip makes some audacious assertions, it’s important to recognize that these claims are entirely untrue. The video is a product of AI generation and does not depict reality, as indicated by the page that shared the video, which describes itself in its bio as an "AI Comedy Creator." View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Dolly Parton takes the stage at the 53rd annual CMA Awards held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 13, 2019 (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images). Additionally, no media organizations have supported the viral assertion, and there has been no official comment from Parton or her representatives. Many fans who responded to the video also recognized it as a hoax, according to the outlet. One commenter said in the video, "It's a pity it's AI. This could have been the ideal answer," while another expressed, "Ugh. You really crushed my spirits. I was holding onto some hope." Additionally, although Trump has voiced his opposition to the ban and claims he will "rescue" TikTok, he has not indicated any desire to acquire the application. The potential ban of TikTok and its implications More than 170 million people in the US use TikTok. Lawyers for the company contend that banning the app violates the First Amendment rights of those millions of users. The argument did not sway a federal appeals court, which upheld the ban-or-sale bill in December, according to the Guardian. In April 2024, Congress notably approved the legislation with support from both parties. US lawmakers are concerned that China might disseminate propaganda via the app, although the outlet reports that they have not provided any evidence to substantiate these claims. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. This image showcases the TikTok app logo prominently featured on an iPhone, captured in London on February 28, 2023 (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images). President-elect Trump, who initially advocated for the app's ban in 2020, has since changed his stance, discovering a substantial following on the platform during the 2024 presidential election. Moreover, he has filed a brief on TikTok’s behalf to stay the ban until he takes office on January 20. If the court acquiesces, Trump could grant a 90-day extension to TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to continue seeking a buyer, per MSNBC. In the event of a ban, new users will be unable to download the app from any app stores, while current users will not have the option to update it. This is due to legal restrictions that prevent any organization from supporting the download or upkeep of the TikTok application. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. This image features a TikTok logo showcased on an iPhone, captured on February 28, 2023, in London (Getty Images). According to the Guardian, US lawmakers have informed Apple and Google, the operators of the two primary mobile app stores, that they need to be prepared to eliminate TikTok from their platforms by January 19. Experts suggest that TikTok's 170 million users in the US are likely to continue using the app since it is already installed on their devices. Nonetheless, as time goes on, the lack of software and security updates may render the app unusable.

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Larian Studios Hints at Exciting Developments for Baldur's Gate 3 Enthusiasts and Others

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. The story of Larian Studios is an important one, and one that is all the more important due to recent “trends” in the gaming space that the studio and its CEO, Swen Vincke, have called out repeatedly. However, the key thing that most people know is that the studio was making its own RPGs and going to places like Kickstarter to get funding for them, but wanted to do something more, something grander. Eventually, they got the chance to work on a key RPG cornerstone and made Baldur’s Gate 3. The team toiled away on it via Steam Early Access, with players helping them create the perfect title, and they did one heck of a great job. The title wowed fans and critics and became a best-seller and the Game of the Year for 2023. That was a huge shock, as that year was stacked with big titles from multiple big-name publishers, and Larian Studios hadn’t “earned” that title quite yet. Ever since then, the team has been working on Baldur’s Gate 3 and fine-tuning it, improving it, and adding all sorts of new features to make the game grand. In recognition of Larian and their remarkable journey to success, a YouTube video was created that documents the team's rise from "obscurity" to becoming one of the top developers in the industry. Upon discovering this video, Swen Vincke shared his thoughts in a tweet: Got me all nostalgic – it really has been a incredible journey so far. But the story ain't over yet. Stay tuned. Going to try to skip the dark night of the soul moment though if you don't mind. https://t.co/eLSTv3CXb4— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) January 10, 2025 It's always gratifying to witness the recognition of people's efforts by those they were intended for, and this situation is no exception. So, what could he have meant by saying, "The story isn’t finished yet?" Firstly, regarding the project the team is still developing, there's one final significant update on the horizon. This will mark the conclusion of the major changes, and while fans will be eager to experience the new features, they will also feel a sense of melancholy knowing that this will be the last round of updates. The other side of this coin is that Larian Studios has made it clear that it’s moving on from the Baldur’s Gate franchise and instead moving in a new direction with an all-new game. That declaration, mixed with some other statements from before, make it clear that the team is shifting to this new game. While that will be sad for some, it’ll also breed excitement, as gamers will get to wonder what Larian Studios has in mind for them with its next RPG adventure and how grand it’ll be compared to what they released in 2023. Only time will tell.

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