Current ‘Jeopardy’ Champion Won’t Stop Swaying Even Though Fans Find It “Distracting” — Here’s Why

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published Dec. 22, 2022, 9:25 a.m. ET

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While Jeopardy! contestant Ray LaLonde has just won his fifth game in a row, fans can’t help but notice the way he rocks back and forth while appearing on camera — prompting a response from the show’s producers.

As a scenic artist from Toronto, LaLonde’s current winning streak has already secured him a spot in the Tournament of Champions in 2023. However, viewers can’t help but complain about the way the contestant sways while answering questions — which could be attributed to spinal cord damage he suffers from, making it so he has to work extra hard to avoid muscle spasms in his legs while appearing on the show, per TBS News Watch.

“MAKE HIM STOP MOVING! PLEASE! HE GIVES ME MOTION SICKNESS!” one fan wrote on Twitter, while another said, “OH MY GOD IT IS DRIVING ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. I’ve been yelling at the TV. And his voice drives me crazy. He has to go soon or I can’t keep watching.”

A third person added, “He seems like a nice man, but his constant twirling back and forth is making me dizzy,” before someone else asked, “Could on one of the Jeopardy producers suggest to Ray that his twisting is distracting, please?”

“He needs to stand still,” another posted. “His constant rocking is very annoying.”

Meanwhile, others weren’t as bothered by LaLonde’s quirk — as long as he keeps up his winning streak.

“I have also noticed his side to side movement, but get over it,” one person wrote. “It’s who Ray is. Enjoy watching him win. Keep it up Ray.”

Another said, “Rock as long as you like Ray..and keep winning!”

While speaking on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, producer Sarah Foss defended LaLonde’s habit, though also revealed it poses some difficulties as far as production goes. She said, “Ray, he kind of likes to move back and forth during his gameplay, which is difficult for our camera operators. So he may or may not have gotten the nickname ‘Ray the Sway.’”

Foss added, “But Ray, however it is you like to win Jeopardy!, you do you!”

Jeopardy! airs on weeknights at 7/6c on ABC.