Ken Jennings Faces Backlash Over Comments on NYT Boycott

Ken Jennings, known for hosting “Jeopardy!,” initiated an online debate after dismissing a call from transgender activists to boycott The New York Times’ games. Using sarcasm, Jennings suggested he had “express permission from the trans community” to continue enjoying his games subscription. This remark led to criticism from transgender activists who felt he was trivializing their concerns.

The incident started on Bluesky, a social media platform, where Jennings shared a screenshot of The New York Times’ Spelling Bee game. He commented, “My wife and I have a game where we try to invent the day’s grossest-sounding word on NYT Spelling Bee.” In response, a user remarked, “I wish people who care about trans people could understand that playing nyt games is still an insult to trans people.”

This prompted Jennings to respond, “This may be true of others but I actually got express permission from the trans community to keep NYT games and recipes. I also have a news subscription, which is arguably worse, so I had to specifically send in a written request. Took 30 days but I got approved.”

In another post, Jennings added that the community explained “Trans people are not a monolith” and allies might disagree on media boycotts, providing him relief. However, the user then criticized Jennings for turning their sincere remark into a joke.

Jennings did not further engage with the user, which led to additional frustration, with claims he made “no effort to apologize or acknowledge” the upset caused. On Bluesky, some commenters echoed similar sentiments, urging Jennings to “read the room.”

Journalist Jesse Singal observed that outrage often stems from social media platforms rather than everyday opinions. He suggested that many transgender individuals are more inclined to play NYT games than criticize those who do. Singal noted that hyperpartisan platforms concentrate users with strong views, creating intense dynamics that alienate moderate users.

For years, transgender activists have criticized The New York Times for what they see as anti-trans coverage. In 2023, many contributors and subscribers signed a letter condemning the paper’s coverage. GLAAD also addressed the Times in a letter, highlighting irresponsible reporting on transgender topics.

In the past, Jennings has publicly supported transgender rights. For instance, he criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom’s stance on transgender athletes, stating that any candidate using trans kids as a political tool is unacceptable.

Amid the controversy, Fox News reached out to Jennings for comment but had not received a response.