Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak called it quits after 40 years and everyone is expecting changes.
For now Vanna White decided to remain on the show, but some have questioned if the transition will work.
But White just shot down some vicious rumors swirling around Wheel of Fortune’s future direction.
Vanna White rumored to be frustrated with Ryan Seacrest
Pat Sajak finally retired as the host of Wheel of Fortune after 41 seasons in an emotional goodbye episode in the summer.
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest was quickly tapped to be Sajak’s replacement when he first announced his impending retirement.
It always seemed like there was a good possibility that letter-turner Vanna White would retire at the same time with Sajak.
They became television household names after working together on one of America’s most iconic game shows for over four decades.
However, White signed a two-year contract extension—with reportedly a sizable pay bump—to stay with the show through the 2025-26 season..
Wheel of Fortune is currently shooting episodes for the next season, which debuts in the fall with Seacrest as the new host.
But The Daily Mail reported that White could quit the game show because she did not get along with Seacrest.
A source told the outlet that White did not mesh with Seacrest.
“Vanna is retiring from the show when her contract ends, but there is a part of her that wants to walk away sooner,” the source explained. “It is just so difficult to do this without Pat.”
“She just doesn’t jibe with Ryan like she did with Pat, and no one really ever expected her to,” the source continued. “There is just no way that she possibly could.”
The source explained that White realized that the show would eventually have to replace her with someone who could build a rapport with the new host.
“She knows that the show needs to go in a different direction and appeal to a younger demographic. She wants the show to continue,” the source detailed. “This will require a younger female host, someone who can be to Ryan what she was to Pat.”
Vanna White kills rumors about friction Ryan Seacrest
White seemingly shut down the scuttlebutt about her unhappiness working alongside Seacrest with a post on social media.
“Friends on and off camera. Enjoying one of our favorites, Chicken and Dumplings,” White wrote on Instagram.
Seacrest commented on the Instagram message expressing how much he enjoyed spending time together.
“Always a treat! Here’s to more fun moments and delicious bites,” Seacrest responded.
View this post on Instagram
That timely post seemingly squashes any talk of discord on set.
Seacrest has praised White in the past and expressed how much he looked forward to working with her.
“I’ve watched the show for so many decades,” Seacrest commented last year. “I’m a fan of the show, and the game is the star. And of course, being next to Vanna, she’s a legend.”
“She’s an icon,” Seacrest added. “We spent a little [time] shooting some promos for next season, and she’s just so down to earth. She’s exactly what you would expect.”
Fans will have to wait until the fall to see how the on-air chemistry develops between Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest when Wheel of Fortune returns with new episodes without Sajak for the first time in almost half a century.
Informed American will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
