It was a night of intense secondhand embarrassment on Tuesday’s Wheel of Fortune when a contestant missed what should have been a clear and easy win—resulting in one of the most memorable mistakes in recent game show memory.
Nikol Gamble, who owns an escape room in Houston, competed against Dustin Whittern, a seasoned black diamond skier from Oklahoma City, and Rachael Traywick, a loyal viewer from Kapaa, Hawaii.
Gamble had been doing well throughout the game—until she reached the Mystery Round. The puzzle, listed under the category “Song Lyrics,” was a lengthy 12-word challenge that contestants gradually pieced together.
By the time it was Gamble’s turn again, nearly the entire phrase had been revealed. The puzzle on the board read:
She simply needed to choose the correct remaining letter.
However, despite host Ryan Seacrest pointing out that no vowels were left, Gamble boldly guessed “O,” confidently reciting: “See The Line Where The Soy Meets The Sea It Calls Me.”
The studio fell into stunned silence. A gasp rippled through the audience, followed by the unmistakable buzz of a wrong answer. That’s when reality hit her—she had made a big mistake.
Traywick immediately jumped in and delivered the correct response: “See The Line Where The Sky Meets The Sea It Calls Me,” a well-known line from the Disney song How Far I’ll Go from Moana.
Viewers watching from home were floored.
One person on Instagram wrote, “This is literally my worst nightmare .”
Another commented, “Omgeeee!!!! That was so hard to watch!!!!! ♀️”
Social media exploded, with reactions on X (formerly Twitter) ranging from disbelief to hilarity. One user posted, “Possibly the worst Wheel of Fortune miss ever. My 3-year-old niece can’t read and even she got it right.”
Another joked, “I’d walk off that stage right then. Forget the money—I’m going home to cry.”
Still, some viewers appreciated Gamble’s grace in the face of embarrassment.
“I bet she’s cracking up at herself now. Gotta love it!” one fan shared.
Even Wheel of Fortune legend Vanna White commented on the moment, noting that this was the longest 12-word puzzle the show had ever featured.
Unfortunately for Gamble, the slip-up ended her streak. She didn’t recover and closed the episode with zero winnings. Meanwhile, Whittern surged ahead, reaching the Bonus Round and taking home an impressive $68,880.
Though Gamble may wish to forget it, the night will certainly be remembered as one of Wheel of Fortune’s most unforgettable moments.