It’s the final countdown.
On Tuesday, “Wheel of Fortune” posted new promotional material on its official Instagram page for the first season coming September 11 – the last from host Pat Sajak.
But curiously, in the comments section, fans were defending Vanna White amid her alleged contract negotiations with the channel and rumors about her status on the show.
The Instagram post showed a smiling photo of Sajak, 76, and White, 66, together, with the caption “41 has never looked so good” – but some viewers didn’t seem too pleased.
“Is Vanna getting a raise this season? asked one Instagram user.
Another echoed their sentiments, writing, “Probably last season since Ryan Seacrest is going to do it and you won’t be giving Vanna a raise 😢.”
“Great job you two!!! She already needs a raise!!! What are you waiting for??? Do it!!! 💓💓💓 🙌🙌🙌,” someone else wrote.
One commentator even speculated: “Already season 41, 10 years ago it was Las Vegas, time flies and Pats couldn’t get here sooner than he is now. Vanna? I’m not sure about his contract since the producers want to make changes by the time Pat leaves at the end of the season.
The Post has contacted “Wheel of Fortune” for comment.
After Sajak announced his retirement in June, it was revealed Ryan Seacrest, 48, would take his place as host from 2024.
Shortly after the announcement, Puck News reported that White had hired attorney Bryan Freedman to broker a deal for her, as she reportedly hasn’t received a raise in 18 years.
The outlet claimed the star had been earning $3 million a year since 2005, while a 2016 Forbes report claimed Sajak was taking in the hefty sum of $15 million a year for hosting.
Her current contract runs until 2024, according to Deadline, but she’s already negotiated a new contract and salary for the celebrity version of the show.
In July, an unidentified source told People that White was simply asking for equal pay from Sajak in her ongoing negotiations, after reports she was only expecting half of what he was earning.
“50 percent of Pat’s salary is so outrageous that no one in their right mind would say it’s fair,” the source told the outlet at the time.
“Negotiation requires well over 50 percent of his salary. He is asking for the same salary, if not more,” they continued.
The source added that White was ready to “fight for her future”.
“Vanna was told, ‘If you fight this, you’ll lose your job. You are lucky to have this job.’ And when people tell you that for so long, you believe it,” they claimed of his past experiences.
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