Dr. Oz is presenting “Jeopardy!” until April 2, but many former contestants are furious about their involvement with the game show.
Dr. Oz started his “Jeopardy!” the hosting of guests took place this week, much to the indignation of fans and more than 500 former participants in the prolific game of questions and answers. Towards the end of February, when it was announced that Dr. Oz, Aaron Rodgers, Katie Couric, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and others would take over “Jeopardy!” hosting tasks after the death of Alex Trebek, hundreds of former “Jeopardy!” Competitors published an open letter on Medium (via the New York Post) condemning the decision to bring Dr. Oz on board.
“When we learned that Dr. Mehmet Oz was scheduled to be the guest host, the deal came quickly – we were opposed,” the contestants wrote in their letter. “Dr. Oz opposes everything that Jeopardy! supports.”
“Throughout his nearly two decades on television, he used his authority as a doctor to spread harmful ideas to the American public, in stark contrast to his oath to first do no harm,” the letter said. “These ideas include promoting supplements that do nothing, legitimizing gay conversion therapy (which is banned in California, as well as in 19 other states), dangerous ‘cures’ for autism and, more recently, the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID -19 … None of these things is supported by any scientific fact and, in promoting them, it is actively putting its viewers in danger ”.
Competitors also used the letter to remind viewers that Columbia Medical School faculty published an open letter in 2014 calling for Dr. Oz to be removed from the school’s program. Dr. Oz was teaching at the prestigious medical school at the time.
Now that “Jeopardy!” From Dr. Oz the episodes started airing, viewers joined the former contestants to attack the current guest host (via Entertainment Weekly). As a reporter Yashar Ali wrote on social media, “So, ‘Jeopardy’ has Dr. Oz, who spreads dangerous pseudoscience, the guest host, but they still haven’t booked [Laura Coates as] guest host. Before he died, Alex Trebek said [TMZ] that Laura would be her choice for a ‘Jeopardy’ host. “
“‘Danger!’ is known for being incredibly rigorous; a well-deserved reputation, “says the contestants’ letter.” As contestants, we all saw what goes on behind the scenes if there was any doubt about a question. We saw writers and judges frantically cross-reference answers in real time to make sure the facts are accurate. So inviting Dr. Oz to be the guest host is a slap in the face for everyone involved. ”
Dr. Oz is scheduled to present Jeopardy! ”Until April 2nd.
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