‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Amy Schneider Claps Back At Transphobic Twitter Trolls
By Kristin Myers on January 2, 2022 at 10:27 AM EST
Current “Jeopardy!” champion Amy Schneider has caused “Jeopardy!” to start trending on Twitter over the last few days.
Schneider is the show’s first openly trans contestant to make it to the Tournament of Champions. She is also crushing the “Jeopardy!” Hall of Fame, which has been updated to include her ending 2021 with a 23 game win streak. She now sits fourth for highest winnings from regular season play and fifth for all-time winnings, including tournaments.
On Christmas Eve, Schneider beat out Larissa Kelly’s previous score of $655,930 to become the highest female earner in the show’s history. Schneider’s score, which currently sits at $855,600, is made all the more impressive when fans consider that it’s through regular gameplay alone.
Well, it was fun to hold a Jeopardy record for a few years...but it's been even more fun to watch @Jeopardamy set new standards for excellence, on the show and off. Congratulations to Amy on becoming the woman with the highest overall earnings in the show's history! 📿👑
— Larissa Kelly (@Larissa_K_Kelly) December 24, 2021
However, some fans are saying that the title “doesn’t count” because Schneider is transgender. Although Kelly went on a blocking spree and responded to trolls in Schneider’s defense, Schneider took to Twitter to reply with her own message to transphobic Twitter trolls.
Amy Schneider Stands Up To Trolls… And Thanks Them!
I’d like to thank all the people who have taken the time, during this busy holiday season, to reach out and explain to me that, actually, I’m a man. Every single one of you is the first person ever to make that very clever point, which had never once before crossed my mind 🙏
— Amy Schneider (@Jeopardamy) December 31, 2021
Schneider gave a positively witty response to the Twitter trolls who have been claiming that her score doesn’t count because she was born a man.
She tweeted: “I’d like to thank all the people who have taken the time, during this busy holiday season, to reach out and explain to me that, actually, I’m a man. Every single one of you is the first person ever to make that very clever point, which had never once before crossed my mind.” She concluded the post with a prayer hands emoji.
Previous “Jeopardy!” contestant Christy Karras – who the late Alex Trebek once dubbed a “buzzsaw” was one of the first to reply. “Laugh all the way to the bank, Amy,” she commented. “Your fellow women of Jeopardy have your back.”
“Yes we do,” another contestant replied.
Hi, five-day female #Jeopardy champion here who thinks @Jeopardamy is great and doesn’t feel any differently about her or threatened by her than any other champion woman. I’m always excited to see a woman kick ass on that show and Amy is doing that!
— Kristin Sausville (@ksausville) December 31, 2021
Kristin Sausville, another former contestant, tweeted, “Hi, five-day female #Jeopardy champion here who thinks @Jeopardamy is great and doesn’t feel any differently about her or threatened by her than any other champion woman. I’m always excited to see a woman kick a-- on that show and Amy is doing that!”
Fans Also Come Out In Support Of ‘Jeopardy!’ Amy
“Is it a coincidence that smart people that have been on #Jeopardy say smart, kind things, and have open minds?” one fan asked.
“The Jeopardy! community supports each other and I love that!” another added.
“As a pastor I want to apologize for what you've had to endure,” one fan wrote to Amy. “It is my tradition that owns the sin of homo/transphobia. I'm grateful, tho, for your strength, and for not believing those vicious lies. Thank u for your strength, for standing tall, and inspiring us. Peace to you.”
“I’m an Episcopal priest adding my voice to this message,” another wrote. “The church has done much harm in the world and the sin of homo/transphobia is certainly a big one. My queer kids and I are cheering you on and are so delighted by your success - as well as your grace and goodness.”
One international fan commented, “We don’t have Jeopardy in Germany, but half of my Twitter has been raving about you. :) People are obviously confused by, or scared of, a smart, witty woman. Make my Twitter timeline happy and go as far as possible!”
I’ve seen @Jeopardamy games that were more competitive than these CFP semis
— James Holzhauer (@James_Holzhauer) January 1, 2022
Fans can’t wait to see Amy’s win streak continue into 2022, especially as she gets closer and closer to edging out James Holzhauer and his win streak of 32 games that was set back in 2019.
The “Jeopardy!” high roller and sports fan finally tweeted about Amy, saying, “I’ve seen @Jeopardamy games that were more competitive than these CFP semis.”