A recent episode of the Australian game show "The Chase" sparked a debate among viewers regarding host Larry Emdur's interactions with a female contestant. Emdur repeatedly called the contestant, identified as Caleah, by the nickname "boo," a practice that drew criticism from some audience members.
The controversy began when Emdur used the phrase "you do you, boo" earlier in the episode, which then seemingly evolved into him using the nickname more frequently. Viewers took to social media platforms like Facebook to voice their concerns, with some describing the nickname as "icky" and others feeling the contestant appeared uncomfortable.
One social media post detailed the incident, stating, "They all tried to laugh it off, but the contestant was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. She asked him to stop. He laughed." The same user expressed that the repeated use of the nickname, especially after the contestant's elimination, felt like "gaslighting."
However, reactions were mixed. Some users agreed that the behavior was inappropriate, with one commenter noting, "Didn't watch, but just from hearing, that's men always downing a woman by using infantile nicknames and claiming it's 'just jokes.'" Another suggested the term "negging," a form of subtle insult, might apply.
Others defended Emdur's actions, suggesting it was part of an inside joke that stemmed from his earlier comment. "I watched it. It was from his first lame joke with the chick [Caleah] playing. 'You do you, boo.' Then he just became even more cringe and kept repeating the lame a*** joke," one viewer explained. Another commenter agreed, stating, "I think they were just joking."
Some participants in the online discussion clarified the term "gaslighting," distinguishing it from simply ignoring boundaries. "Not denying his behavior was icky, but gaslighting actually means 'a form of psychological manipulation and emotional abuse where someone deliberately makes you question your own memory, perception of reality, or sanity' rather than a man thinking he's better or ignoring a clear boundary set," one user wrote.
This is not the first time Emdur has faced public scrutiny for his on-air comments. In April, he received backlash for an April Fool's joke about Meghan Markle, claiming she had a list of "don't ask" questions before an interview. Emdur later addressed the criticism, stating he was unfazed by the negative messages and found the situation "bloody hysterical."