'Jeopardy:' With Richards Out, Is Mayim Bialik Next To Go?

In a 2017 New York Times op-ed about the allegations made against former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein, Bialik made comments that many felt blamed victims and how they dressed.

Distinguishing herself from the "pretty girls," Bialik described herself as a "prominent-nosed, awkward, geeky Jewish 11-year-old" that didn't fit in.

She continued, "I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don't act flirtatiously with men as a policy."

Many took Bialik to task for her comments. Actress Patricia Arquette took to Twitter, writing, "I have to say I was dressed non provocatively at 12 walking home from school when men masturbated at me. It's not the clothes."

Bialik later insisted her comments were taken out of context, although she did apologize, writing, “You are never responsible for being assaulted… I am truly sorry for causing so much pain, and I hope you can all forgive me.”

In 2009, Bialik criticized vaccines in an interview, describing her family as a “non-vaccinating” one.

Three years later, the neuroscientist raised eyebrows when she wrote in her highly publicized parenting guide, "Beyond the Sling," that she chose not to vaccinate her children.

She wrote, "We made an informed decision not to vaccinate our children, but this is a very personal decision that should be made only after sufficient research, which today is within reach of every parent who seeks to learn about their child’s health regardless of their medical knowledge or educational status."

These comments led fans to believe that Bialik was also against the COVID-19 vaccine, which prompted a statement from her spokesperson confirming that she had, in fact, been vaccinated: “She has been fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus and is not at all an anti-vaxxer.”

Although she does have a scientific background, she has been criticized for her role as a spokesperson for the supplement company, Neuriva, which sells unproven “nootropics.”

Although she claims that Neuriva Plus is “backed by strong science” in a recent ad, a Psychology Today article released last year dismissed Neuriva as “just another tasty snake oil.”

Bialik has also supported the myth that hormonal birth control can lead to mental illness, including depression and anxiety, and had some “worrisome” comments about women who deliver through c-sections, stating, “There are those among us who believe that if the baby can’t survive a home labor, it is OK for it to pass peacefully. I do not subscribe to this, but I know that some feel that… if a baby cannot make it through birth, it is not favored evolutionarily.”

She also encourages questionable parenting practices, including bed-sharing with an infant, calling it “actually really safe and really smart.” The American Academy of Pediatrics has come down hard against Bialik’s comments, stating that it can lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Although late host Alex Trebek remained relatively free from controversy, it's starting to seem that no pick will be able to satisfy the show's passionate fanbase.

Even "Jeopardy!" G.O.A.T. Ken Jennings, who appeared to be a frontrunner for the position, has drawn fan ire when he was selected for the first guest hosting slot in January 2021.

Fans dug up old tweets made by Jennings, one of which read, "There's nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair."

Although the lack of transparency regarding how the future host is selected might be fueling the flames of fan outrage, it's starting to seem that there really was only one host for "Jeopardy!" ...and the show may not survive without him.