Pat Sajak- Global Warming Advocates Are 'Unpatriotic Racists'; 'Wheel of Fortune' Host Sparks Social Media Controversy
Pat Sajak, the longtime host of "Wheel of Fortune," became the subject of social media controversy Monday after he said that global warming advocates are "unpatriotic racists." The right-leaning game show host received many disparaging replies in the following days, which prompted him to point out that his original tweet was just satire.
Pat Sajak tweeted "I now believe global warming alarmists are unpatriotic racists knowingly misleading for their own ends. Good night." The result was almost immediate as some of his 58,000 Twitter followers tried to convince him otherwise.
"Science isn't something you 'believe' in, it's something to be understood, which apparently you don't, you ignorant f---," @MovieJay tweeted.
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"Guys, @patsajak has gone off the deep end. Someone please help him. WHAT A LOON!" @idetestyou agreed.
"Hey @PatSajak, this aint the Wheel of Fortune. If we lose this game it isn't just one person's misfortune. All humanity pays the price," prominent climatologist Michael E. Mann responded.
However, most didn't get the satire— Sajak was calling attention to the way climate skeptics are called names, not climate change itself. He alluded to his aim in a tweet the next day.
"Sometimes it's fun to poke a stick in a hornets' nest just to hear the buzzing," the 67-year-old game show host posted. Still, the controversy and backlash continued, and eventually had to clarify his joke.
"As most of you know, original Tweet was intended to parody the name-calling directed at climate skeptics. Hyperbole," he tweeted. He also released a statement to help clear up misconceptions as well.
"Of course I was joking. Just mocking the name-calling that is directed at global warming skeptics within and without the scientific community," he said through a representative.
This isn't the first time the longtime GOP supporter has poked fun at liberal ideology via Twitter. His posts are mostly politically-themed jokes, barbs and satire, some of which has caused controversy in the past.
"Damn the career consequences! I'm hereby proclaiming my heterosexuality!" he tweeted in April.
"Reminder for tax deadline: If you think taxes are too low, the rates are merely legal minimums; feel free to send more," Sajak posted earlier last month.
"Good News! Beginning today, all my tweets will be gluten free!" another one read.
