Wheel of Fortune Contestant Nearly Drops a Curse Word — Host Can’t Stop Laughing
Things got wild on Wheel of Fortune Tuesday night. Contestant Maki Asrat almost blurted out a not-so-family-friendly word on live TV — and host Ryan Seacrest cracked up.
Maki Asrat Shines Early and Often
Maki Asrat, a spirited player from Brooklyn, New York, captivated viewers during the June 4 episode. She competed against Anthony Monroe from Albany, Georgia, and Jessica Beasley from Hartsville, South Carolina.
Asrat dominated early, quickly becoming the fan favorite. She solved the first two toss-up puzzles with lightning speed — even completing one with just two letters revealed. Her energy and competitive spirit were impossible to ignore.
During the show, Asrat shared she recently returned to sewing after a previous failed attempt. The audience loved her honesty, and Seacrest connected with her over emotional TV moments.
“I used to cry when American Idol contestants didn’t make it to Hollywood,” Asrat admitted.
Seacrest smiled, “I still cry when they don’t make it.”
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Near Slip-Up and Big Wins
Things weren’t all smooth. During one puzzle, Asrat guessed “Someone’s Watching Me” but quickly corrected herself to “Somebody’s Watching Me.” That win scored her a vacation to Cabo San Lucas.
She kept her momentum in the Mystery Round. Taking a risk on the Mystery Wedge, Asrat won $10,000 by solving “Egg on Your Face Lift.” That pushed her total winnings to $23,900 — way ahead of her competitors.
Jessica Beasley had her moment too. She solved the Prize Puzzle, “The Perfect Temperature,” winning a trip to Hawaii and a Wild Card, bringing her total to $12,319. Meanwhile, Monroe, a retired Marine, got on the board with “Dollar Signs” and $3,200.
The Hilarious Bonus Round Flub
Asrat led with $33,900 and advanced to the Bonus Round. That’s when things got funny.
She picked the category “What Are You Doing?” and chose letters R, S, T, L, N, E plus G, H, C, and I. The puzzle appeared:
C_ _SING _N _ R _R.
With the timer ticking down, Asrat blurted:
“Cursing in… Cursing, cursing, cursing and—”
She couldn’t quite finish the phrase.
Ryan Seacrest couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“It’s like you’re desperate to say a bad word here,” he joked.
The correct answer? “Causing an Uproar.”
“Sometimes you get stuck on a word and can’t shake it,” Seacrest added as Asrat laughed it off.
A Big Win and a Memorable Moment
Though Asrat missed out on the $40,000 prize, she still walked away with nearly $34,000. More importantly, she gave viewers a moment they won’t forget.
