Mike Richards Steps Down As 'Jeopardy!' Host After Controversy

Updated September 8, 2021

Well, another day, another Jeopardy! update. Less than two weeks after it was announced that Executive Producer Mike Richards would be taking the role as host of the beloved game show, it has been announced by TMZ that Mike will be stepping down from the role after derogatory comments he made on a podcast resurfaced this week.

Just nine days after it was announced Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik would co-host Jeopardy!, Mike has tapped out.

As fans may recall, the initial plan was to have Mayim host Primetime and spin-off specials, while Mike would take over Alex Trebek's daily hosting duties.

Soon after it was announced Mike would host, fans of the show began posting resurfaced comments the producer made in a podcast from 2014.

The Anti-Defamation League called him out on Twitter for making racist remarks about Jewish people, as well as several sexist comments.

TMZ reports someone on the podcast made a comment about big noses, to which Mike responded: "Ixnay on the ose-nay. She's not an ew-Jay."

He also called his female co-host a "booth slut" and made comments about her friends' weight.

Since these comments resurfaced online, Mike's position as the host, which was already controversial, was called into question.

For the past 9 days, people have been calling for Mike to step down from his hosting gig and be fired from his role as executive producer.

On Friday morning, he announced he's leaving the hosting podium.

The show, which began filming with Mike as the host on Thursday, is on a brief intermission. "It pains me that these past incidents and comments have cast such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we look to start a new chapter," he began.

"I was deeply honored to be asked to host the syndicated show and was thrilled by the opportunity to expand my role," he continued.

"However, 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."

He explained that Sony will begin the search for a new, permanent host to replace Alex Trebek.

"SPT will now resume the search for a permanent syndicated host. In the meantime, we will be bringing back guest hosts to continue production for the new season, details of which will be announced next week."

He concluded:

"I want to apologize to each of you for the unwanted negative attention that has come to Jeopardy! over the last few weeks and for the confusion and delays this is now causing. I know I have a lot of work to do to regain your trust and confidence."

Sony Pictures has released a statement in support of Mike's decision.

“We support Mike’s decision to step down as host,” Sony Pictures TV said in a new statement, as per Variety. "We were surprised this week to learn of Mike’s 2013/2014 podcast and the offensive language he used in the past. We have spoken with him about our concerns and our expectations moving forward.”

Their statement concluded:

“Mike has been with us for the last two years and has led the ‘Jeopardy!’ team through the most challenging time the show has ever experienced. It is our hope that as EP he will continue to do so with professionalism and respect."