This story was updated at 12:07 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021.
Answer: This controversial host of “Jeopardy!” quit just nine days after being tapped as the beloved trivia show’s new face.
Who is: Mike Richards?
Richards, the “Jeopardy!” executive producer initially tapped as the late Alex Trebek’s successor, stepped down as host Friday amid significant backlash.
Richards, in an email to the show’s staff Friday morning, said he had been “deeply honored” to be asked to take over as host.
But following widespread criticism of his appointment in light of reports of a number of inappropriate comments made on a podcast that ran in 2013 and 2014 — as well as campaigns for guest hosts who many fans preferred — Richards said he felt it is in the show’s best interest if he resigns immediately.
BREAKING: Mike Richards has stepped down as the host of Jeopardy! Official statement via Sony: pic.twitter.com/eJSwyBOXwN
— Claire McNear (@clairemcnear) August 20, 2021
“Over the last several days, it has become clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show,” Richards wrote.
Richards had apologized for comments made during a podcast he co-hosted, “The Randumb Show,” in which he disparaged women’s bodies, repeatedly used a derogatory word for little people and made an antisemitic remark.
“It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago,” he said in a statement Thursday after a story from The Ringer brought the crude comments back to light.
“Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry,” Richards added. “The podcast was intended to be a series of irreverent conversations between longtime friends who had a history of joking around.”
He had been able to skate past resurfaced reports on discrimination lawsuits filed by women who worked on “The Price Is Right,” where he was executive producer from 2008-2018.
Richards’ email to show staff Friday said “Jeopardy!” will return to a rotation of celebrity guest hosts until another permanent host is selected.
Sony Pictures Entertainment, which produces and distributes the game show, said Richards would stay on as the program’s executive producer.
“We support Mike’s decision to step down as host,” Sony said in a statement. “We were surprised this week to learn of Mike’s 2013/2014 podcast and the offensive language he used in the past. We have spoken with him about our concerns and our expectations moving forward.”
The selection of “Jeopardy!” guest hosts since Trebek died Nov. 8 included actor and “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton, who many fans backed to become the permanent host; past contestant Ken Jennings, who holds the show’s records for longest winning streak, highest total prize earnings and highest average correct responses per game; and “The Big Bang Theory” actor and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik, who was tapped as the host of primetime “Jeopardy!” specials when Richards was initially unveiled as the main host.
Other guest presenters included TV journalists Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, David Faber, Sanjay Gupta, Savannah Guthrie, Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Bill Whitaker; NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers; sports broadcaster Joe Buck; talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz; and former “Jeopardy!” champion Buzzy Cohen, who hosted the Tournament of Champions.
Richards, in closing his email statement Friday, apologized for “the unwanted negative attention” that his appointment has caused “Jeopardy!”
“I know I have a lot of work to do to regain your trust and confidence,” he said.
Alex McCann: amccann@post-gazette.com. The Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press contributed.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Richards had not yet recorded episodes as the permanent host.
First Published: August 20, 2021, 2:26 p.m.
Updated: August 20, 2021, 2:43 p.m.
