Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings has become the target of online criticism from some transgender users who took issue with his subscription to The New York Times and his participation in its online games. The controversy began when Jennings shared on the social media platform BlueSky that he and his wife play a game involving creating "grossest-sounding words" using the newspaper's Spelling Bee word game.
One user, Gwen Pepperoni, expressed outrage that Jennings would engage with The New York Times, which has faced scrutiny for its coverage of transgender issues, including puberty blockers and transgender women in sports. Pepperoni stated, "I wish people who care about trans people could understand that playing NYT games is an insult to trans people."
Jennings responded sarcastically, claiming he had received "express permission from the trans community" to continue playing NYT games and that he had specifically requested approval to maintain his news subscription. This exchange reportedly sparked a significant backlash, with some users accusing Jennings of being condescending and dismissive of transgender feelings.
Some reactions compared Jennings' actions to more severe offenses, while another user drew a parallel to author J.K. Rowling, who has faced criticism for her views on transgender women in female sports. One comment read, "I'm consistently never disappointed but never surprised when a cis man turns out to not actually give a s*** about anyone except himself."
However, the article notes that Jennings has previously expressed support for the transgender community. In July, he reshared a post from author Parker Molloy criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom's stance on gender-affirming care for minors, stating that any candidate "triangulating" on the issue was a "non-starter." This earlier stance earned him praise from some users who called him a "hero."
The New York Times has experienced internal and external pushback regarding its coverage of transgender topics. In 2022, hundreds of Times staff members and external figures alleged in open letters that the newspaper demonstrated "editorial bias" in its reporting on transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. They cited concerns about the paper's use of language, its sources, and its reporting on transgender children and gender-affirming care. The Times has defended its journalism, stating it aims to "explore, interrogate and reflect the experiences, ideas and debates in society" and expressed pride in its reporting.