The legendary Pat Sajak, who has long been known as one of the only openly conservative stars in Hollywood, has made the sad announcement that he will be leaving “Wheel Of Fortune” after the upcoming 41st season. This came as a shock to fans, given the fact that Sajak has hosted the game show since 1981.
Longtime Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak has announced on Twitter that after the show's 41st season, he plans to retire.
Sajak has been the host of Wheel since 1981. pic.twitter.com/nRNpAuOUoN
— IGN (@IGN) June 13, 2023
Sajak Leaving ‘Wheel Of Fortune’
“Well, the time has come,” Sajak, 76, wrote on Twitter. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.”
“It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months,” he continued. “Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”
Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)
— Pat Sajak (@PatOnWheel) June 12, 2023
No replacement for Sajak has been announced at this time, and Sony Pictures Television, which owns “Wheel Of Fortune,” declined to comment when contacted by NBC News. Suzanne Prete, executive vp game shows at Sony Pictures Television, later confirmed his exit to The Hollywood Reporter.
“As the host of ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years,” Prete said. “We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season.”
“Pat has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting, so we’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ family,” she added.
After more than 40 years as the host of “Wheel of Fortune,” Pat Sajak has announced he plans to retire next year. @joefryer shares a look back at Sajak’s iconic career. https://t.co/FjbEJNrVzF pic.twitter.com/QS0SYT3l7K
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 13, 2023
‘We’re Getting Near The End’
In an interview in September of last year, Sajak indicated that he was considering leaving “Wheel of Fortune.”
“Years go by fast. We’re getting near the end. It’s been a long [time]. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “… It’s an honor to have been in people’s living rooms for that long. People were out there welcoming us. We’re happy and proud.”
Sajak first began hosting “Wheel Of Fortune” back in 1981, and his co-host Vanna White joined him one year later. White, who also is still on the game show, has yet to comment on Sajak’s exit. Throughout his career, Sajak has won three Daytime Emmy Awards in the outstanding game show host category (1993, 1997, 1998), as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2011.
#PatSajak announces he’s leaving #WheelOfFortune: "A Wonderful Ride" pic.twitter.com/kg04HQrqpA
— Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) June 13, 2023
Related: Game Show Host Pat Sajak Says ‘End Is Near’ After 40 Years Of Hosting ‘Wheel Of Fortune’
Sajak’s Conservative Views
Sajak has managed to have a successful career in entertainment for decades despite being an unapologetically conservative Republican. Sajak has previously written articles for the conservative magazine Human Events, and back in 2014, Sajak dared to question climate change in a tweet that has since been deleted.
“I now believe global warming alarmists are unpatriotic racists knowingly misleading for their own ends,” he wrote, according to TIME Magazine.
Sajak had previously said that he enjoyed using his Twitter account to “get a rise out of people.”
Pat Sajak deleted tweet: “Global warming alarmists are unpatriotic racists.” pic.twitter.com/Ybtpj35Vc5
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 13, 2023
Last year, Sajak came under fire when a photo went viral showing him with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
This isn't news. It's well known Pat Sajak is a raving conservative.
Watch the show, don't watch the show, but he's about to retire and y'all are late by over half my life. https://t.co/vpZhLlx2qA
— Johnny Akzam (@JohnnyAkzam) September 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/DianaGHealth/status/1571325856433246208
First Chuck Woolery. Now Pat Sajak. Are all game show hosts trash? https://t.co/Nc0mThlFap
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) September 18, 2022
Unlike the vast majority of celebrities, Sajak has never let the liberal elites of Hollywood get in his head and radicalize his views.
Sajak is a true entertainer who has made us all laugh on “Wheel Of Fortune” for decades. While he will be dearly missed, we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors!
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I wish he and his family the very best in his retirement. He will be greatly missed by millions of very long-time fans. His smile and good, clean fun was part of days gone by. Thank you, Pat.