Explaining the poorly timed Walker-related puzzle, the show says the episode was taped long before the actor died and its airing on Monday night was 'an unfortunate coincidence.'
- Dec 4, 2013
AceShowbiz - Just days after a tragic car accident that killed Paul Walker, "Wheel of Fortune" featured a puzzle with the answer "The Fast and the Furious" in a Monday, December 2 episode. Realizing that it might be deemed insensitive to those who are still mourning the actor's death, the show has explained the Walker-related puzzle.
On its official Twitter page, the show posted, "The show that included the puzzle 'The Fast and The Furious' was taped on 10/4/13. It's an unfortunate coincidence that it aired tonight." The show offered their condolences, adding, "The hearts of everyone at Wheel of Fortune go out to the family, friends & fans of Paul Walker."
Host Pat Sajak also took to his own Twitter account to express his regret for the poor timing. "Feel terrible about timing of "Fast & Furious" puzzle tonight. Taped long ago & went out to 200 local stations days ago," he wrote.
Walker died in a fiery car crash on Saturday, November 30 in Santa Clarita, California. He was a passenger in his friend's car, which lost control, slammed into a light pole and a tree before it burst into flames, during a joyride. Roger Rodas who drove the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT also passed away in the accident.
Autopsies on Walker and Rodas were completed on Tuesday, but the Los Angeles County coroner's office said that "no results will be released until at the earliest, tomorrow."
