‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Leaves Ryan Seacrest in Stitches After Missing $40,000 Bonus Round Prize

A Wheel of Fortune contestant came close to saying an accidental swear word on national television after getting stuck on a tricky Bonus Round puzzle, leaving host Ryan Seacrest struggling to contain his laughter.

Maki Asrat, a lively contestant from Brooklyn, New York, delivered a strong performance during the June 4 episode. Competing against Anthony Monroe of Albany, Georgia, and Jessica Beasley of Hartsville, South Carolina, she quickly established herself as the frontrunner. However, it was her attempt to solve the final puzzle that ultimately became the episode’s most memorable moment.

Maki Asrat Takes an Early Lead

Asrat got off to an impressive start by solving the first two toss-up puzzles, including one with only two letters revealed. Her enthusiasm and competitive spirit made her stand out from the beginning.

She also opened up about recently returning to sewing after an earlier attempt had not gone as planned. Her candid personality helped her connect with the audience, while a conversation with Seacrest revealed a shared emotional connection to American Idol.

Asrat admitted that she used to cry whenever contestants failed to advance to Hollywood on the singing competition. Seacrest, who also hosts American Idol, agreed with her sentiment.

“I still cry when they don’t make it,” he said with a smile.

Despite her strong start, Asrat had a brief stumble during one puzzle. She initially guessed “Someone’s Watching Me” before correcting herself just in time with the actual answer, “Somebody’s Watching Me.” The successful solve earned her a vacation to Cabo San Lucas.

She continued building her lead in the Mystery Round, taking a chance on the Mystery Wedge and winning an additional $10,000 after solving “Egg on Your Face Lift.” That brought her total to $23,900 and put her comfortably ahead of her opponents.

Jessica Beasley and Anthony Monroe Score Wins

While Asrat dominated much of the game, her competitors also had opportunities to boost their totals.

Jessica Beasley, who shared her enthusiasm for vintage cars, solved the Prize Puzzle, “The Perfect Temperature.” Her reward included a trip to Hawaii and a Wild Card, helping her finish the round in second place with $12,319.

Anthony Monroe, a retired Marine, also got on the scoreboard by solving “Dollar Signs.” He finished with $3,200.

Asrat ultimately maintained her lead, ending the main game with an impressive $33,900 and securing her place in the Bonus Round.

A Bonus Round Guess Leaves Ryan Seacrest Laughing

With the chance to win an additional $40,000, Asrat selected the category “What Are You Doing?”

After receiving the standard letters R, S, T, L, N and E, she chose G, H, C and I. The board then displayed the partially completed phrase:

C__SING _N _ R_R

As the countdown continued, Asrat tried to work through the puzzle aloud.

“Cursing in… Cursing, cursing, cursing and—” she said, repeatedly returning to the same word without finding the solution.

Her struggle prompted an amused reaction from Seacrest, who could barely contain his laughter.

“It’s like you’re desperate to say a bad word here,” he joked.

The correct response was “Causing an Uproar.” Asrat’s repeated attempts to make sense of the letters had sent her down the wrong path, costing her the opportunity to claim the $40,000 bonus.

Seacrest offered a sympathetic explanation as she laughed off the mistake.

“Sometimes you get stuck on a word and can’t shake it,” he said.

Although she missed out on the extra prize, Asrat still walked away with $33,900 in winnings, along with a vacation to Cabo San Lucas and a memorable Bonus Round moment.

Her near-slip turned what had already been a successful night into an especially entertaining episode of Wheel of Fortune.