By Samantha Kubota
Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek was almost moved to tears after a contestant made a sweet gesture during the final moments of the show Monday night.
It happened during an episode of the annual Tournament of Champions.
Contestant Dhruv Gaur, who is a student at Brown University, was stumped during the Final Jeopardy question. So instead, he wrote “We love you, Alex,” along with a heart drawing.
After Trebek read the answer aloud, he struggled to maintain his composure.
“That’s very kind, thank you,” he said, before continuing on. The move cost Gaur $1,995.
Alex Trebek getting choked up during Final Jeopardy today messed me all the way up. #Jeopardy #WeLoveYouAlex86.9K7:23 PM – Nov 11, 2019 · Gary, INTwitter Ads info and privacy22.3K people are talking about this
Trebek announced earlier this year he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Despite chemotherapy treatments that caused his hair to fall out and left him struggling to enunciate, the 79-year-old returned to host the 36th season of “Jeopardy!”
He recently spoke to Canada’s CTV and said he was “hanging in.”
“We’ll play it by ear and keep chugging along until we either win or lose,” he said. “I’m not afraid of dying. I’ve lived a good life, a full life, and I’m nearing the end of that life … if it happens, why should I be afraid of it?”
Immediately after Monday night’s heartfelt episode aired, #WeLoveYouAlex started trending on Twitter in a show of support for the beloved host.
“Alex Trebek getting choked up during Final Jeopardy today messed me all the way up,” @aneerbas tweeted.
Alex Trebek getting choked up at a heartfelt final jeopardy answer. The instant welling up of tears and emotion no viewer expected to have tonight. what a moment. #weloveyoualex 98.7K7:41 PM – Nov 11, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy19.5K people are talking about this
“Okay, now I’m crying,” @tblugator said.
Amina Bobb Brattke@AminaBrattke
Watching Alex Trebek get choked up during Final Jeopardy when a contestant burned his answer to share a special message, is more than I can handle tonight #WeLoveYouAlex. 2,1777:32 PM – Nov 11, 2019 · Brooklyn, NYTwitter Ads info and privacy269 people are talking about this
“Alex Trebek getting choked up at a heartfelt final jeopardy answer,” @Kelli96 said. “The instant welling up of tears and emotion no viewer expected to have tonight. What a moment.”
Wasn’t prepared to tear up at #Jeopardy. Lovely moment from today’s episode. #WeLoveYouAlex8,0218:10 PM – Nov 11, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy2,767 people are talking about this
balor and mox girl forever@waitng4thtdance
The guy knew he had no chance of winning the game so he wrote that… Aw. We need more people like that in the world. So darn sweet. #WeLoveYouAlex https://twitter.com/aneerbas/status/1194047946469326848 …sabreena@aneerbasAlex Trebek getting choked up during Final Jeopardy today messed me all the way up. #Jeopardy #WeLoveYouAlex5,9618:00 PM – Nov 11, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy1,045 people are talking about this
Gaur took to Twitter to explain his thought process behind the now-viral moment.
“…for context, Alex had just shared with us that he was reentering treatment for pancreatic cancer. We were all hurting for him so badly,” he wrote late Monday night. “When Final Jeopardy came up, I could’ve tried to puzzle it together, but really, just kept thinking about Alex, and thought he should know.”
Dhruv Gaur@dhruvg_ · 16hReplying to @dhruvg_
When Final Jeopardy came up, I could’ve tried to puzzle it together, but really, just kept thinking about Alex, and thought he should know. 3/n
I’m just very grateful I got the opportunity to say what I know everyone was thinking. Sending all the love. #weloveyoualex24.1K9:05 PM – Nov 11, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy3,490 people are talking about this
“I’m just very grateful I got the opportunity to say what I know everyone was thinking,” Gaur tweeted. “Sending all the love. #weloveyoualex“
The contestants still in the Tournament of Champions are encouraging fans to watch and play along Nov. 14-15. They say for every answer you get right, you should consider donating $1 to pancreatic cancer research.
The #Jeopardy Tournament of Champions competitors are organizing a charitable play along to help fight pancreatic cancer. See below for details, play along, spread the word, and let’s do what we can to help win this fight.
3,8327:25 PM – Nov 4, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy1,560 people are talking about this
