The Internet Just Found Out Alex Trebek Nominated a Black Woman, Laura Coates, to Replace Him on Jeopardy

By Malaika Jabali ·August 20, 2021August 20, 2021

Who knew trivia game show drama could get so real? In the latest chapter of the Jeopardy saga, it turns out that late host Alex Trebek expressed interest in having CNN senior legal analyst Laura Coates replace him.

This isn’t news to us at ESSENCE—we reported this in 2018. But video footage went viral this week of Trebek explicitly nominating Coates, the former prosecutor and radio show host, to take over for him in the long-running game show. Coates, along with sports broadcaster Alex Faust, were his top choices.

Today, the recently appointed host Mike Richards announced he is stepping down.

Though Twitter can claim credit for many things, the resurfaced interview footage may not be the primary factor in Richards’s resignation.

Fans were already upset that the show’s executive producer won the spot over popular figures, like the beloved LeVar Burton. But it looks like offensive comments Richards has made in the past prompted his swift exit. The Anti-Defamation League stated that Richards made “disparaging remarks about Jews, women,and Asians,” while host of a podcast.

New “Jeopardy!” host Mike Richards' disparaging remarks about Jews, women & Asians are no laughing matter.Stereotyping is an entry point to hate and his apology lacks acknowledgment of its harm.This reported pattern warrants an investigation. https://t.co/0D8D7441vU

— ADL (@ADL) August 19, 2021

As USA Today reports, Richards wrote an apology stating it was “humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago. Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry.”

Before this news emerged, however, the internet had a field day with the resurfaced Alex Trebek interview.

Who Alex Trebek wanted to replace him. It’s all coming together now… pic.twitter.com/sklq9QZQbu

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with a Y

(@wyntermitchell) August 19, 2021

So to recap, Sony hired a producer who had already been part of some discriminatory lawsuits, allowed him to lead the hunt for Trebek's replacement, then greenlit his choosing himself for the job…All because what Alek actually wanted was a black woman.Sounds about ouite. https://t.co/lrvCvOZSq9

— Hassan Sayyed (@HausUrban) August 19, 2021

Laura Coates not only is smart .. she is personable and has a great sense of humor!!! Let her guest host!! https://t.co/Ox6KVheoou

— Loni Love (@LoniLove) August 20, 2021

You mean to say there's footage of Alex saying exactly who he wants to host? https://t.co/kPDbJyb7e6

— Sandra E. Garcia (@S_Evangelina) August 20, 2021

And I absolutely love her!!!! She wasn’t even a guest host … smh https://t.co/3KGLIIpE32

— Can I peg you, @SethRogen ?? (@MrsKhandiCoated) August 20, 2021

While Richards fumbled the bag, it leaves the door open for Jeopardy to reconsider some previous options, and perhaps to honor Trebek’s wishes.

TOPICS: jeopardy