‘Jeopardy!’ host Ken Jennings defends NSFW ‘What’s a hoe?’ answer — 18 years later

Once a “hoe,” always a “hoe.”

Former “Jeopardy!” champion and current host Ken Jennings still thinks he deserves to be compensated for his infamous NSFW answer given during gameplay in 2004.

“Okay, so there’s, like, an 18-year-old clip of me on ‘Jeopardy!’ circulating on TikTok where there’s a clue about ‘an immoral pleasure seeker’ that has the same name as a long-handled garden instrument,” the 48-year-old explained in a video posted to the show’s TikTok account.

“And the players are supposed to say, ‘What is a rake?’ And I say, ‘What is a hoe?’ and TikTok has apparently just discovered this and is delighted.”

While his answer originally created a memorable moment for viewers and late host Alex Trebek, people nowadays on TikTok still don’t understand why Jennings’ guess was wrong.

“I remember shouting the same answer at the TV when it aired, and my whole family burst out laughing,” one person commented on the explanation.

“I’ve never heard of a person called a rake,” another said.

However, Merriam-Webster defines a rake as “a dissolute person.”

“Ive always said that should have been accepted,” another echoed.

“I think the idea is the clue says it’s ‘an immoral pleasure seeker,’ and we don’t want to characterize all hoes that way,” Jennings continued. “Rakes, apparently, we’re okay with that aspersion on their character.

“I still think I was shafted, quite frankly. I think I’m owed $200 and, you know, maybe the writers should get a pool together,” he joked.

Whether or not that will ever happen seemingly lies in the fate of “Jeopardy!” judges and producers. As for the internet, they’re processing the fact that the pop culture moment happened so long ago.

“Wait, you’re telling me it’s been 18 YEARS? I’m old enough to remember things that happened 18 years ago?!” one TikTok user commented.

“This man has aged maybe 18 months over the course of 18 years good LORD,” another said of Jennings.