Named a co-host of the “Jeopardy!” game show franchise just nine days ago, Mike Richards announced Friday that he will not take the position of host amid controversy regarding disparaging statements about women, Jews, poor people and Haiti, NBC News reports.
Comments made by Richards when he was the executive producer of “The Price Is Right” and as host of the “The Randumb Show” podcast resurfaced after he was rumored to be a leading candidate to take over the game show’s podium and blue cards.
“I was deeply honored to be asked to host the syndicated show and was thrilled by the opportunity to expand my role. However, over the last several days it has become clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show,” Richards said in a statement. “As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately. As a result, we will be canceling production today.”
Richards is expected to continue as executive producer of the show. Actress Mayim Bialik was named host of special editions of “Jeopardy!” A search for a new host will be undertaken.