Some on social media are calling it a #MeToo moment, while others see it as a "stupid joke" during long-time jokes between coworkers and friends.
Did Pat Sajak cross the line with an off-color question he asked Vanna White during a recent episode of "Wheel of Fortune"? The moment certainly grabbed the attention of social media, but they too can't collectively decide whether they did something wrong.
The moment came during some of the show's usual banter between the contestants, Sajak, and his longtime co-host. After talking about a contestant who was an opera singer, Sajak asked White, "Are you fond of opera?"
White replied, "Yes. I'm not fond, but I do like opera."
From here on out, it was a matter of wordplay with Sajak taking it in an off-color direction that surprised and upset some fans. "Have you ever seen opera in the buff?" He joked. "I'm just curious."
White joked with a one-word response, "No." But was it just an innocent banter between people who have known each other for a long time, or did Sajak cross a boundary?
Sajak has been with "Wheel of Fortune" since 1981, with White joining them only a year later, so the two have a very long working relationship. Within the confines of existing law, harassment policies vary slightly from workplace to workplace, so it may come down to how White found Sajak's joke.
At the same time, it was publicly stated in front of contestants and crew, broadcast to the general public, and then expanded even more widely after going viral online. Thus, there are many possible reactions to their joke and its appropriateness, so there may be a wider scope.
It was a joke built on wordplay, but there's also the obvious element of Sajak asking White a question about her being naked. In other words, there are arguments all around, and they all took to social media after the moment went viral.