Ken Jennings Criticized Over Sarcasm Amid Trans Activist Controversy

“Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings sparked debate after using sarcasm to respond to calls from transgender activists to boycott The New York Times’ word games. Jennings claimed with sarcasm that he had “express permission from the trans community” to maintain his game subscription, addressing demands for a boycott of all New York Times products.

Jennings’ statement on the social media platform Bluesky led to backlash from transgender activists. They accused him of trivializing their concerns. Jennings initially posted screenshots of the New York Times’ Spelling Bee game and mentioned a game he plays with his wife.

My wife and I have a game where we try to invent the day’s grossest-sounding word on NYT Spelling Bee.

One user on Bluesky reposted Jennings’ comment, expressing concern over the continued engagement with The New York Times’ products given the activists’ stance. Jennings responded sarcastically, noting he had received “express permission” from the trans community and had a news subscription as well.

He elaborated, claiming his request took 30 days to process, adding a comment on diverse opinions within the trans community.

They were like ‘Trans people are not a monolith’ and ‘Like-minded allies may disagree on specific media boycotts’ and stuff like that. It was a huge load off my mind!

When criticized further, Jennings was accused of turning serious concerns into a joke. The original poster expressed disappointment over Jennings not contacting them afterward or apologizing publicly.

Commenters on Bluesky urged Jennings to read the situation better and labeled his response “dismissive.” Others queried if he planned to apologize.

Journalist Jesse Singal suggested that the outrage reflects the platform’s environment rather than the general sentiment of trans individuals. He observed that platforms concentrating users with extreme views can create a high-pressure environment that influences interactions.

There has been sustained criticism from transgender activists towards The New York Times for perceived anti-trans coverage, arguing that subscriptions support the outlet financially. In 2023, contributors and subscribers of the paper signed a letter condemning its coverage of transgender issues. GLAAD also criticized the coverage as biased.

Jennings has expressed support for transgender rights in the past. In July 2025, he criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stance on transgender athletes, asserting that it was important to support better candidates.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jennings for comment, but he did not immediately reply. Madison Colombo, a writer for Fox News Digital’s Flash, Media, and Culture team, contributed to this report.