What should have been a fun Valentine’s Day episode of Wheel of Fortune quickly became one of the show’s most debated moments. Contestant Conner Kemmsies, a commercial pilot from California, had performed well throughout the game and entered the bonus round with a chance to add a substantial prize to his winnings. Viewers expected an exciting finish and hoped to see his strong performance rewarded.

Then the final puzzle appeared under the category “Phrase.” Conner managed to solve the beginning—“I DID MY”—but ran out of time before identifying the final word. The correct answer was “I DID MY HOMEWORK,” costing him an additional $40,000. Almost immediately, viewers began debating whether the puzzle itself was fair. The controversy that followed soon became bigger than the loss itself…