Mike Richards Wilts Under Hit Piece and ADL Pressure, Steps Down as “Jeopardy!” Host
Evan James
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On Thursday Big League Politics covered the hit pieces and negative press coverage that new “Jeopardy!” host Mike Richards had been receiving. We concluded that it went hand in hand with the media’s strong push to anoint LeVar Burton as host, perhaps in part due to his race.
Well they’ve gotten their scalp. Richards announced Friday morning, nine days after taking the helm of the iconic game show, that he was stepping down. The media scrutiny was evidently too much after The Ringer reported he had allegedly made “disparaging remarks” about women, Jews, and Haiti on a podcast several years ago.
“Over the last several days it has become clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show. As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately. As a result, we will be canceling production today,” Richards wrote in a staff memo.
Richards is not leaving “Jeopardy!” altogether. Sony has said he will remain executive producer.
Curiously enough, Richards’ official decision to step down came just hours after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), everyone’s favorite leftist Jewish advocacy group, called for an “investigation” into his past podcast remarks, claiming that “stereotyping is an entry point to hate.” It is once again evident that if the ADL wants someone investigated or deplatformed or scalped, they will be listened to almost 100 percent of the time (unless their target is Tucker Carlson).
A new permanent “Jeopardy!” host will not be named for a while. According to the New York Times, the show will embark on another round of guest hosts.
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