Daytime talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz is the latest in a series of presenters invited to take control of the classic game show following the death of longtime host Alex Trebek.
While fans and alumni reacted differently to each of the guest hosts who tried to stay in the massive shadow of Alex Trebek as the host of the iconic game show “Danger!” none got a strong reaction like the last one Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The daytime host was the target of a lot of online anger from fans, but the outrage started long before he actually showed up. In fact, it has been about a month since almost 600 ex-contestants wrote a letter to executive producer Mike Richards to express his frustration, which was posted on Average.
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While praising the diversity represented by invited hosts, including Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper, Mayim Bialik, Aaron Rodgers and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the group quickly condemned the inclusion of Oz in that high group, writing that he “opposes everything that says ‘Jeopardy!’ supports.” TooFab contacted Oz and program representatives for comment.
“Over 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, “continued the letter. “None of these things are supported by any scientific fact, and by promoting them, he is actively putting his viewers in danger.”
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THE Los Angeles Times confirms that a 2014 study found that only about a third of Oz’s claims were supported by medical evidence (based on a sampling period in 2013).
“In fact, his ideas are so dangerous that thousands of his colleagues have requested that he be fired from his position at Columbia Medical School,” the letter continues. Once again, the Times points to a 2015 petition by several Oz colleagues in Columbia seeking to remove him from his teaching position, where he is currently director of the Center for Integrative Medicine.
At the time, Oz said AND! News, “I bring public information that will help them do their best. We offer a number of points of view, including mine, which is offered without conflict of interest. This does not fit with certain agendas that distort the facts.”
“Dr. Oz represents what has become a dubious trend in America: the elevation of the accredited speaking head at the expense of academic rigor and consensus,” wrote the contestants.
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The letter then asked Richards: “What kind of message does this send to LGBTQ + and autistic competitors and viewers of ‘Jeopardy!’?”
In addition, they talked about the “incredibly rigorous” work that goes into the show itself, to ensure the accuracy of their answers and questions. “We watched writers and judges frantically cross-reference responses in real time to make sure the facts are accurate,” they write. “So inviting Dr. Oz to be a guest host is a slap in the face for everyone involved.”
Social media fans are calling and participating in a two-week boycott of the show while Oz is presenting, hoping to send a message to Richards and other producers how they feel about his inclusion as a guest presenter as the show tries to find a replacement permanent.
Dr. Oz began his two-week season as the host of “Jeopardy!” on Monday, after a two-week run by Katie Couric. Former- “Celebrity Jeopardy!” Green Bay Packers champion and defender Aaron Rodgers takes over from April 5.
