A contestant on Wheel of Fortune walked away with a big payday, but not everyone watching was convinced she earned it fair and square.
During the Wednesday, February 27 episode, Sarah LaPilusa faced off against Air Force member Jimmy Holgerson and traveler Yolanda Tillet in a game that went down to the wire.
By the end of the standard puzzle rounds, LaPilusa had secured the top spot with $15,050, which included a trip to Mexico. Tillet was close behind with $13,500, while Holgerson finished in third place with $2,000.
The Controversial Final Puzzle
For the final puzzle round, LaPilusa—who runs a mental health clinic in California—chose “People” as her category. She selected the letters “M, B, H, and O” to go along with the standard “R, S, T, L, N, and E.” That left her staring at a two-word phrase on the board:
_ _ S S _ B _ B _ E S
As the clock ticked down, LaPilusa initially blurted out “Jazzy babies,” which was incorrect. But in a split second, she followed it up with the correct answer: “Fussy babies.”
However, whether she actually beat the buzzer was another question entirely.
Did She Win Fairly? Fans Are Divided
Host Ryan Seacrest turned to the judges for a ruling, and after reviewing the timing, they determined that LaPilusa had answered in time. That decision secured her the $40,000 prize, bringing her total winnings to $55,050.
Some fans on YouTube and social media cheered her quick-thinking skills, calling it an impressive last-second win.
“That’s what I call a buzzer beater! Great job, Sarah!” one user commented.
Another viewer praised her thought process: “PERFECT example of ‘talking it out.’ She said ‘jazzy babies’ which led her to ‘fussy babies’ right as time expired. AMAZINGLY well done.”
But not everyone was convinced. Some viewers believed her correct answer came after the buzzer and that she shouldn’t have been awarded the prize.
“That was 100% after the buzzer. It was so simply obvious,” one person wrote.
Another echoed the same sentiment: “She was too late. They gave her that win.”
Seacrest Reacts, but Doesn’t Weigh In on the Debate
Seacrest, who took over hosting duties from longtime Wheel of Fortune star Pat Sajak, avoided taking a definitive stance on whether the win was legitimate.
“That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything so close!” he remarked as the audience cheered.
Whether LaPilusa’s last-second guess was truly within the time limit or just a hair too late, the ruling stood—securing her the big win and leaving Wheel of Fortune fans fiercely debating yet another controversial game show moment.
