Boy: I Was Cheated Over ‘Jeopardy’ Spelling

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut eighth-grader who misspelled the correct answer to a “Jeopardy!” question and lost money over it says he was cheated.

Thomas Hurley III correctly answered the Final Jeopardy question about the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln. But Thomas spelled it “emanciptation” and was ruled out by host Alex Trebec.

He bet $3,000 of his $9,600 in winnings and lost to a rival who amassed $66,600.

The 12-year-old Newtown boy tells The News-Times of Danbury that he was cheated and upset.

Producers of Jeopardy! said in an email that the show would penalize other players if it credited a contestant’s incorrect response.

Hundreds vented their anger at the game show on its Facebook page.

The Kids Jeopardy! program was filmed in February and broadcast last week.