A recent episode of Wheel of Fortune has sparked heated debate among fans after a contestant’s controversial final answer divided viewers across the country. On Wednesday, February 27, Sarah LaPilusa competed against Air Force member Jimmy Holgerson and world traveler Yolanda Tillet in a close game that came down to the wire. While LaPilusa ultimately walked away with the biggest winnings of the night, not everyone watching was convinced she earned her prize fair and square. By the time the standard puzzle rounds ended, LaPilusa was in the lead with $15,050, a total that included an exciting trip to Mexico. Tillet wasn’t far behind with $13,500, while Holgerson trailed with $2,000. As the game shifted to its high-stakes final puzzle, all eyes were on LaPilusa as she attempted to increase her total winnings in the bonus round.
For the last puzzle, LaPilusa, who runs a mental health clinic in California, chose “People” as her category. She then selected the letters M, B, H, and O to accompany the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, and E. After the letters appeared on the board, the puzzle showed up as a two-word phrase: _ _ S S _ B _ B _ E S. LaPilusa had ten seconds on the clock to solve the puzzle and claim the bonus prize. As the timer started counting down, she first blurted out the phrase “Jazzy babies,” which was incorrect. But just a moment later, in what appeared to be a last-second move, she followed it up with the correct answer: “Fussy babies.” However, whether she had beaten the buzzer became a major point of controversy.
Host Ryan Seacrest, who recently took over Wheel of Fortune hosting duties from longtime host Pat Sajak, immediately turned to the judges for an official decision. After reviewing the timing of LaPilusa’s answer, they ruled that she had indeed responded in time. As a result, LaPilusa won the $40,000 bonus prize, bringing her total winnings to an impressive $55,050. The audience erupted in applause, and Seacrest congratulated her on her victory, calling it an incredible finish. Many fans watching from home took to social media to praise LaPilusa’s quick thinking and determination, with some describing it as one of the most exciting moments in recent Wheel of Fortune history. One enthusiastic commenter on YouTube said, “That’s what I call a buzzer beater! Great job, Sarah!” Another added, “PERFECT example of talking it out! She said ‘jazzy babies,’ and that got her to ‘fussy babies’ just in time. AMAZINGLY well done.”
But not everyone was ready to celebrate. A large number of viewers were skeptical about the timing of LaPilusa’s winning answer. Many felt it came after the clock had expired and that she shouldn’t have been awarded the prize. One person wrote, “That was 100% after the buzzer. It was so obvious.” Another viewer chimed in, “She was too late. They gave her that win.” These opinions quickly spread online, sparking a heated debate among fans who questioned whether the show’s judges had made the right call.
Despite the controversy, Seacrest kept his reaction neutral and avoided taking a stance on whether the ruling was correct. Instead, he expressed his amazement at the close finish, telling the audience, “That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything so close!” While he acknowledged the intensity of the moment, Seacrest left the debate to the fans. Regardless of the disagreement over whether LaPilusa’s answer made it in time, the ruling stood, and her victory was made official.
The episode quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the season, with fans continuing to argue both sides of the issue on social media and in online forums. Whether LaPilusa truly beat the buzzer or slipped in just a hair too late may never be agreed upon, but one thing is certain: the moment brought plenty of excitement to Wheel of Fortune and left viewers with yet another game show controversy to debate. In the end, LaPilusa’s win stands, but the discussion over whether it was fair will likely continue for some time.
