STUDIO FALLS SILENT. A single slip of the tongue cost a funeral director $69,000 on live TV, and viewers are blasting Ryan Seacrest for what they call a ‘cold, emotionless reaction.’ The heartbreaking moment spread like wildfire online, with thousands arguing over whether the host should have stepped in. What began as a routine round suddenly turned into a storm of shock, anger, and disbelief leaving the entire audience frozen as the jackpot vanished in seconds.

Wheel of Fortune/YouTube

Wheel of Fortune fans blasted Ryan Seacrest for a repeated quirk on the game show. This came after a funeral director lost out on taking home $69,000 in the Bonus Round.

Elizabeth Teal, from Tullahoma, Tennessee, played against Malik Sullivan, from New York, New York, and Christine Nguyen, from Sugar Land, Texas, on Tuesday, December 2. Teal is a licensed funeral director and embalmer at her family’s funeral home, where she works with her father and sister.

She solved both of the Toss Ups to start off the game with $3,000. Nguyen, a kindergarten teacher, solved “Wearing my Ugly Sweater” for $6,800.

Nguyen solved “The Midas Touchscreen” and won a trip to the Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii after landing on the wedge. Her total was $16,020.

Nguyen solved most of the prize puzzle, leaving all but two letters. The turn moved to Teal, who solved “Fantastic Parade.” Teal won a trip to Disneyland, which gave her a total of $12,059.

Teal solved two of the three triple Toss Ups, putting her in the lead. Nguyen solved the last one and took the lead back.

Teal took back the lead on the final puzzle when she solved “Glistening Icicles.” She had a final total of $19,859 and advanced to the Bonus Round. Sullivan, a huge Bruce Willis fan, was sent home with $1,000 after not winning any money. Nguyen took home $18,020.

Teal chose “Phrase” for her Bonus Round category. She brought her mom and husband with her.

After Wheel of Fortune gave her “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” Teal chose “W,B,M, and A” to round out her puzzle. It then looked like “_ _ _TE  A   _ _MB_.”

Teal figured out that the first two words were “Quite A,” but couldn’t figure out the last word. It turned out to be “Quite a Combo.”

Ryan Seacrest faced her and showed her how much was in the envelope, but fans couldn’t see the amount. She groaned and shook his hand.

When the host turned to the camera, a crew member said something to him off-screen, and he held up the envelope, which had $50,000 in it. This would have given her a total of $69,859.

Fans complained about Seacrest’s quirk online. “I don’t get how Ryan opens the envelope before the camera is ready or the contestant looking at him,” a Reddit user said.

One fan simply asked what was inside the envelope.

“Ryan, show the camera the open envelope. You’ve had one season to learn how this goes, man,” a YouTube user commented.

“Why did Ryan not show the camera at first?” asked one last fan.