"What Is That Hand Gesture?" Controversy Over White Supremacy Allegation Against US Quiz Show Winner

Kelly Donohue making the controversial hand gesture.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo-mi Lee] A winner of a popular American quiz show is embroiled in controversy for making a hand gesture used by white supremacists on air.

On the 17th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that Kelly Donohue, who recently won the popular American quiz show "Jeopardy!", was caught up in controversy for making a white supremacist hand gesture on the broadcast.

According to the NYT, on the broadcast on the 27th of last month, after securing a three-game winning streak, Kelly Donohue placed her right hand over her chest, folding her thumb and index finger while extending the other three fingers. It looked like an inverted "OK" hand sign.

Subsequently, suspicions arose on social media that Donohue was signaling that she was a white supremacist on TV. This hand gesture resembled symbols used by American white supremacist groups such as the KKK.

The controversy escalated when it was revealed that Donohue’s Facebook page contained a photo of her wearing a red hat with former President Donald Trump’s slogan "Make America Great Again." Trump is often criticized for exacerbating divisions in American society with white supremacist attitudes.

Members of the far-right group 'Proud Voice' showing finger verification.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A group of 595 former "Jeopardy!" contestants sent a letter to the show's producers holding them accountable for airing the white supremacist hand gesture without filtering it out. They emphasized, "We cannot stand with hate, nor can we share the stage with anything that looks like hate."

On the other hand, Donohue explained that the hand gesture made on the quiz show was simply to celebrate her three wins.

She stated, "I am not a racist, and I am clearly opposed to white supremacy," adding, "(The hand gesture) is nothing more or less than the number three."

In fact, on the broadcast, when her first win was confirmed, she raised her right index finger, and when her second win was confirmed, she raised her index and middle fingers.

Donohue making various hand gestures. Photo by Twitter

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in the United States examined Donohue’s hand gesture and said, "It appears she was showing three fingers to indicate her three wins on the broadcast," and "Her hand gesture does not seem to indicate any particular ideology."

Meanwhile, a controversy related to hand gestures recently arose in South Korea as well.

There were allegations that a hand gesture depicted on a GS25 camping promotional poster resembled the logo of the feminist community "Megalia." This hand gesture is known to carry a derogatory meaning about the size of Korean men’s genitalia.

Additionally, similar images were alleged to have appeared in police promotional materials and a public contest poster in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province, continuing the ongoing controversies related to hand gestures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.