“It pains me that these previous incidents and feedback have solid such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we glance to start out a brand new chapter,” Richards stated in a memo Friday morning.
The beloved sport present started manufacturing on its new season on Thursday, which suggests some episodes with Richards as host have already been taped.
However Friday’s tapings have been cancelled, Richards stated.
He wrote within the memo that Sony “will now resume the seek for a everlasting syndicated host. Within the meantime, we can be bringing again visitor hosts to proceed manufacturing for the brand new season, particulars of which can be introduced subsequent week.”
The memo indicated that Richards will stay the chief producer of the present. He stated to the employees, “I wish to apologize to every of you for the undesirable adverse consideration that has come to Jeopardy! over the previous couple of weeks and for the confusion and delays that is now inflicting. I do know I’ve plenty of work to do to regain your belief and confidence.”
The lack of belief and confidence got here on account of Claire McNear’s reporting for The Ringer.
McNear, the creator of a latest e-book about “Jeopardy!” and the late host Alex Trebek, discovered Richards’ previous podcast, for instance, by which he made derogatory remarks about little folks, Jews, folks receiving unemployment advantages and sexist feedback about girls.
He “repeatedly used offensive language and disparaged girls’s our bodies,” McNear reported.
After 24 hours, it was clear that his apology was not well-received. The Anti-Defamation League even weighed in, saying that Richards’ “disparaging remarks about Jews, girls & Asians aren’t any laughing matter. Stereotyping is an entry level to hate and his apology lacks acknowledgment of its hurt. This reported sample warrants an investigation.”
Sony, which produces the profitable sport present, declined to touch upon Thursday, elevating the specter that Richards’ status was too sullied for him to proceed as host.
His memo on Friday referenced “previous incidents and feedback” which have “solid such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we glance to start out a brand new chapter.”
