A Wheel of Fortune player who divided the internet cleared the air following the viral moment that left fans wondering what her answer was as she claimed the infamous word has “haunted her” since the episode.
The contestant, Megan Carvale, joined ABC’s “Good Morning America” for an interview Thursday and revealed what she really said that cost her $40,000 during a bonus round.
After guessing a few correct letters, the married California high school teacher had 10 seconds to come up with a two-word answer for the category of “living thing,” to which she needed to solve the puzzle reading, “P_N_’ ‘_RC_ _ D’
When Carvale gave her answer, it sounded like she could’ve said the correct one, “Pink Orchid,” but also faintly could be heard as “Something Orchid.”
The “GMA” cast featuring Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan half-heartedly vouched for many fans who made the case Carvale guessed the puzzle correctly — but also noticed she didn’t fully commit to her answer.
That’s when the moment of truth spilled out once and for all when they directed their attention to Carvale.
“For the history books [and] for the sake of this desk — what did you say?” Strahan asks a smiling Carvale.
“You know, I wish I said pink because I would have been $40,000 richer — but I said ‘something,’” Carvale admitted. “It’s funny because going onto the show, I was so excited to be a part of it, and I was so bummed that I lost to the bonus round.
“Even just watching it back and thinking ‘okay just have to get through it, watch it once,’ [but] then I wake up yesterday and it’s all over headlines, everybody’s talking about the bonus round and I’m reliving this loss.”
Carvale said despite the blunder she only received positive feedback, adding that nobody “made fun of her.”
Stephanopoulos thanked Carvale for her honesty, but jokingly mentioned her family might’ve wanted the $40,000 instead.
“Of course they do,” a smiling Carvale responded.
Carvale added her 8-year-old son wouldn’t give her a break about it on the ride back home from the show, recalling when he said, ‘I can’t believe you didn’t get pink, I can’t believe you didn’t get pink.’”
“That word has already been haunting me and now all of America believes that I said it but I didn’t.”
Fans went bonkers after the initial blunder on the show, with many demanding Wheel of Fortune give Carvale the $40,000 prize they thought she should’ve won.
“The woman got screwed on #WheelOfFortune bonus puzzle tonight, she totally said ‘PINK ORCHID’ right at the start,” one X user said.
“I am FUMING!! She got it she said pink orchid! Wtf?!” a third person added.