--- title: Why Mike Richards Stepped Down From 'Jeopardy!' description: Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards has stepped down as incoming host of the game show. Here's what to know about the controversy. canonical: https://time.com/6091755/why-mike-richards-stepped-down-jeopardy/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2021-08-20T21:24:19.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-12T00:49:32.000Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: New 'Jeopardy!' Host Mike Richards Steps Down Amid Criticism og:description: But he's not leaving the show entirely og:url: https://time.com/6091755/why-mike-richards-stepped-down-jeopardy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1eb4bc7dbc3aefaf/698a1c2016d88423f0c39a40/Jeopardy-Mike-Richards.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Jeopardy-Mike-Richards og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: New 'Jeopardy!' Host Mike Richards Steps Down Amid Criticism twitter:description: But he's not leaving the show entirely twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1eb4bc7dbc3aefaf/698a1c2016d88423f0c39a40/Jeopardy-Mike-Richards.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # New _Jeopardy!_ Host Mike Richards Steps Down Amid Criticism. But He's Not Leaving the Show Entirely  by [Megan McCluskey](/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Updated: Dec 12, 2023 12:49 AM CUTPublished: Aug 20, 2021 9:24 PM CUT  Mike Richards accepts the award for Outstanding Game Show for Jeopardy! during the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast on June 25, 2021. Mike Richards accepts the award for Outstanding Game Show for Jeopardy! during the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast on June 25, 2021.Daytime Emmy Awards 2021—Getty Images  by [Megan McCluskey](/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Updated: Dec 12, 2023 12:49 AM CUTPublished: Aug 20, 2021 9:24 PM CUT [_Jeopardy!_](https://time.com/5723892/alex-trebek-jeopardy-answer/ "undefined")executive producer Mike Richards has officially stepped down as incoming host of the long-running game show as multiple controversies from his past have come to light**.** After emerging earlier this month as the [frontrunner to take over](https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-alex-trebek-1235034673/ "undefined") as _Jeopardy!_‘s new permanent host, Richards came under fire this week for [offensive and sexist comments](https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/8/18/22631299/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-search-process-past-comments "undefined") he made on a podcast several years ago. Additionally, discrimination allegations Richards faced while he served as co-executive producer and executive producer of _The Price is_ _Right—_a job he held from 2008 to 2019 before moving to _Jeopardy!_ in 2020—resurfaced in recent weeks. Richards announced his exit in an [internal staff memo](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/business/mike-richards-quits-jeopardy.html "undefined") on Friday, stating that it had become “clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show.” > [](https://twitter.com/clairemcnear/status/1428720429615681551) According to a subsequent statement from Sony Pictures Television, the studio that produces and distributes _Jeopardy!_, Richards will stay on as executive producer as the program continues its search for a full-time replacement for late host [Alex Trebek](https://time.com/5679310/alex-trebek-dies/ "undefined"), who served as the beloved face of the game show for 36 years before he passed away in November 2020. “Mike has been with us for the last two years and has led the _Jeopardy!_ team through the most challenging time the show has ever experienced,” the statement read. “It is our hope that as executive producer he will continue to do so with professionalism and respect.” Here’s what to know about the controversy surrounding Richards and what’s next for _Jeopardy!_ ## Criticism grows over Mike Richards being selected as the _Jeopardy!_ host After serving a two-week stint as one of _Jeopardy!_‘s rotating guest hosts earlier this year, Sony announced on Aug. 11 that [Richards would become the show’s new regular host](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/arts/television/jeopardy-mike-richards-mayim-bialik-new-hosts.html "undefined") while former _Big Bang Theory_ star [Mayim Bialik](https://time.com/4983874/mayim-bialik-victim-blaming-harvey-weinstein/ "undefined") would take over as host for prime time specials and spinoffs. The decision was largely met with criticism, as many fans were hopeful that other popular guest hosts, like former _Reading Rainbow_ host LeVar Burton or _Jeopardy!_ champion Ken Jennings, would be chosen for the gig rather than the executive producer who was originally tasked with leading the search. Backlash over allegations of discrimination that Richards faced during his tenure at _The Price is Right_ also continued to mount_,_ having first flared up when Richards emerged as the _Jeopardy!_ host frontrunner earlier this month. While working at _The Price Is Right_, [Richards was implicated in multiple employment lawsuits filed by former models](https://ew.com/tv/mike-richards-jeopardy-past-discrimination-allegations-resurface/ "undefined") on the show, including a 2010 complaint in which model Brandi Cochran alleged that Richards and other producers discriminated against her due to her pregnancy. Cochran won the suit in 2012 and was awarded $8.5 million in damages. However, the decision was overturned the next year and the case was eventually settled out of court. Richards addressed the allegations in an [Aug. 9 memo to _Jeopardy!_ staff](https://deadline.com/2021/08/mike-richards-allegationsprice-is-right-lawsuit-jeopardy-host-1234811452/ "undefined"), claiming that the characterization of his comments and actions don’t reflect the reality of who he is. “I would not say anything to disrespect anyone’s pregnancy and have always supported my colleagues on their parenting journeys,” he said. The controversy came to a head on Wednesday, when [_The Ringer_ published a report](https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/8/18/22631299/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-search-process-past-comments "undefined") detailing offensive comments Richards made while hosting _The Randumb Show_ podcast from 2013 to 2014\. In a series of audio clips obtained by _The Ringer_ before all 41 episodes of the podcast were pulled from the show’s hosting site on Tuesday, Richards can reportedly be heard making disparaging remarks about women, Asians, Haitians and Jews, and using derogatory terms for both little people and people with mental disabilities. In one instance, Richards refers to his co-host and former assistant Beth Triffon as a “booth ho” and “booth slut” while discussing her work as a model at CES. In another, he says that Triffon’s female friends “look really frumpy and overweight” after seeing a picture of them in swimsuits. The report prompted the The Anti-Defamation League to call for an investigation into Richards’ behavior ahead of his Friday departure. “New _Jeopardy!_ host Mike Richards’ disparaging remarks about Jews, women & Asians are no laughing matter,” the organization [wrote](https://twitter.com/ADL/status/1428446674574188546 "undefined") on Twitter on Thursday. “Stereotyping is an entry point to hate and his apology lacks acknowledgment of its harm. This reported pattern warrants an investigation.” ## What’s next for _Jeop_ _ardy!_? With Richards out, _Jeopardy!’_s search for a permanent host to join Bialik will resume once more. In the meantime, Richards said in his Aug. 20 memo that the show will be bringing back guest hosts to continue production for the new season. [Sony announced](https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/jeopardy-mayim-bialik-1235047029/ "undefined") on Aug. 23 that Bialik will serve as the first guest host and fill in for three weeks of episodes. Future guest hosts will be announced at a later date. “I want to apologize to each of you for the unwanted negative attention that has come to _Jeopardy_ over the last few weeks and for the confusion and delays this is now causing,” Richards concluded his statement. “I know I have a lot of work to do to regain your trust and confidence.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6091755/why-mike-richards-stepped-down-jeopardy/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6091755/why-mike-richards-stepped-down-jeopardy/"},"headline":"New Jeopardy! Host Mike Richards Steps Down Amid Criticism. 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