When Ray LaLonde has just won his sixth consecutive game on Jeopardy!, fans can’t help but notice the way he rocks back and forth while appearing on camera, causing the show’s producers to respond.
As a Toronto-based scenic artist, LaLonde’s current winning streak has already earned him a seat in the 2023 Tournament of Champions. However, spectators cannot help but grumble about the contestant’s swaying when answering questions, which could be related to spinal cord damage he suffers from, per TBS News Watch, causing him to use additional effort to prevent muscle spasms in his legs while appearing on the show.
“MAKE HIM STOP MOVING! PLEASE! One admirer tweeted, “HE GIVES ME MOTION SICKNESS,” while another remarked, “OH MY GOD IT IS ABSOLUTELY DRIVING ME NUTS. I was yelling at the television. His voice drives me absolutely wild. He must leave soon, or I cannot continue to watch.”
A third person commented, “He seems like a kind man, but his incessant back-and-forth twirling is making me dizzy,” before a fourth person requested, “Could one of the Jeopardy producers please inform Ray that his twisting is distracting?”
“He needs to stand motionless,” posted a second user. His incessant rocking is quite irritating.
Others were not as disturbed by LaLonde’s peculiarity, so long as he maintained his winning streak.
One individual remarked, “I have also seen his side-to-side movement, but get over it.” “It is Ray’s nature. Enjoy seeing him triumph. Ray, keep it up!”
Someone another stated, “Rock as long as you want, Ray, and keep winning!”
During an interview for the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, producer Sarah Foss defended LaLonde’s behavior while admitting that it presents production challenges. She stated, “Ray has a tendency to roam back and forth during his games, making it challenging for our camera operators. So he might or might not have acquired the nickname “Ray the Sway.”
Foss added, “But Ray, you do whatever it takes to win Jeopardy!”
Jeopardy!