A recent episode of Wheel of Fortune has sparked major debate among viewers after a contestant’s last-second answer in the final puzzle round left fans split over whether she truly earned her victory. The controversy unfolded during the Wednesday, February 27 broadcast, when contestant Sarah LaPilusa walked away with a massive payday—but not everyone watching was convinced it was a fair win. LaPilusa, who operates a mental health clinic in California, was competing against Air Force member Jimmy Holgerson and avid traveler Yolanda Tillet. The game was tight from the start, and by the end of the regular puzzle rounds, LaPilusa had pulled ahead with $15,050 in total winnings, including an exciting trip to Mexico. Tillet wasn’t far behind with $13,500, while Holgerson finished in third place with $2,000. As the game headed into its final round, the stakes were higher than ever.
During the last puzzle of the night, LaPilusa chose “People” as her category. She then selected the letters M, B, H, and O to go along with the standard R, S, T, L, N, and E that are automatically given in the bonus round. When the letters appeared on the board, they revealed a tricky two-word phrase: _ _ S S _ B _ B _ E S. With just ten seconds on the clock, LaPilusa quickly blurted out “Jazzy babies,” which was not the correct answer. But only a moment later, and still within what many believed was the final second, she followed up with the phrase “Fussy babies,” which was the correct solution. What followed was a moment of confusion as fans, both in the studio and watching at home, tried to figure out if her winning answer had beaten the buzzer or if it came just a fraction of a second too late.
Host Ryan Seacrest, who recently stepped into Pat Sajak’s iconic role, turned to the show’s judges for a decision. After carefully reviewing the timing of LaPilusa’s response, they ruled that she had indeed answered in time. That decision locked in her $40,000 bonus prize, boosting her total winnings for the night to an impressive $55,050. The audience erupted in applause, and Sarah was visibly overjoyed by her victory. Many viewers on social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter praised her quick thinking and composure under pressure. Comments poured in from supporters who called it one of the most exciting finishes they’d seen in a while. “That’s what I call a buzzer beater! Great job, Sarah!” one enthusiastic fan wrote online. Another user chimed in, saying, “PERFECT example of talking it out! She said ‘jazzy babies,’ and that helped her make the leap to ‘fussy babies’ right before time ran out. AMAZINGLY well done!”
But not everyone was convinced. A significant number of viewers felt that LaPilusa’s correct answer came after the buzzer and believed the judges had made the wrong call. Critics argued on social media that her response was too late and that she should not have received the $40,000 prize. One person wrote, “That was 100% after the buzzer. It was so obvious.” Another commented, “She was too late. They gave her that win, and it wasn’t right.” The skepticism spread quickly, sparking heated debates in online forums and among Wheel of Fortune’s devoted fan base.
As for Ryan Seacrest, he kept his response neutral. While he didn’t address the controversy directly, he did share his amazement at how close the finish was. “That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything so close!” he said, as the crowd cheered and LaPilusa celebrated her victory. Seacrest avoided weighing in on whether the judges had made the right call, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions. In the end, the ruling stood, and Sarah LaPilusa’s win became official.
Whether you believe she answered just in time or think she was a second too late, there’s no denying that this Wheel of Fortune moment has become one of the show’s most hotly debated finales in recent memory. Fans continue to argue both sides, with some applauding Sarah’s quick reflexes and others questioning the fairness of the decision. Either way, it was a nail-biting finish that reminded everyone why Wheel of Fortune has kept viewers on the edge of their seats for decades.
