A contestant on Wheel of Fortune has captured the attention of the internet due to a memorable blunder involving the word “cheesesteak.” During the episode that aired on Monday, December 30, Gaelyn Nease from Tallahassee, Florida, found herself in a promising position to win big as she competed against Carmetta Wells from Los Angeles, California, and Mike Tomani from Rochester, New York. Nease’s success in correctly guessing several letters in a puzzle from the ‘Food and Drink’ category led the board to display: “NE _ / _ OR _ / _ HEESE _ A _ E.” However, her attempt to solve the puzzle took an unexpected turn when she confused two distinct iconic cheesy foods.
Nease confidently declared “New York Cheesesteak” as her answer, only to be corrected by Wells, who swooped in with the accurate response: “Cheesecake.” Despite this misstep, Wells went on to secure a victory, winning a trip to New York City, which included a VIP ticket to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve hosted by Ryan Seacrest. She also walked away from the game show $68,250 richer, while Tomani earned $17,700 and Nease ended up with $2,000 in winnings.
The moment sparked a wave of reactions from viewers, with many expressing disbelief and amusement at Nease’s blunder. Social media platforms were abuzz with comments from fans of the show, who shared their thoughts on the unfortunate mix-up. One viewer described the answer as “a new all-time horrible answer,” while another admitted it was the worst they had seen “live” on TV. The consensus among fans was that while game shows can be challenging, the correct answer should have been more easily attainable.
The incident did not go unnoticed on online forums, with the Wheel of Fortune subreddit also weighing in on the mishap. Redditors described watching the moment as “painful” and expressed their disbelief at the error. One user even humorously suggested that Nease might face some social repercussions in New York and Philadelphia following her mistaken answer.
This blunder was not the first to gain viral attention on Wheel of Fortune. In a previous episode that aired in November 2024, another contestant made headlines for providing an incorrect response to the puzzle “Give yourself a round of applause.” With just a few letters missing, the contestant mistakenly exclaimed, “Treat yourself a round of sausage.” Despite the amusing mix-up, the puzzle was eventually solved correctly by a fellow contestant. Host Ryan Seacrest jokingly remarked on the humorous moment, stating that he actually liked the incorrect response.
The contestant, known as Will, later confessed to feeling starstruck and experiencing a “little missolve” due to the pressure of being on stage with notable personalities like Seacrest and Vanna White. In an Instagram post with the show’s social correspondent, Maggie Sajak, Will reflected
