At the very moment that humiliated “Wheel of Fortune” contestant Julian Batt mispronounced “Achilles,” you could tell that he wanted to melt and dissolve into the cracks in the floor.
You could literally see the light go out of this Indiana University student’s eyes as reality crashed down upon him with thundering force that he coughed up $1 million, a brand new car, a first-class trip to an exotic island and, most of all, humiliated his school on national TV.
All the letters had been filled in for Batt, a freshman at IU, to solve the puzzle “Mythological Hero Achilles,” but contestants must pronounce the words correctly to win.
Batt pronounced the hero’s name incorrectly, saying “A-chill-is” instead of the proper pronunciation. That mistake may have cost him $1 million.
ABC’s “Good Morning America” interviewed Batt, who appeared flustered on the show as he realized his mistake.
“It just kind of hit me like a train, and I really didn’t know how to react to it,” Batt said. “The game continued on and (another contest from) Texas A&M, she solved it, and it hit me right then and there that it was Achilles.”
Batt said he didn’t feel like he’d made a mistake.
“I feel like I solved the puzzle entirely and all I had to do was read it, and I just went for it and I did my best,” Batt told ABC.
Batt also had two other gaffes on the show, yet he still called it a “dream” and one of the “greatest experiences” he ever “accomplished.”
Interesting way to look at it — which probably helps explain why social media, Twitter in particular, dragged him all over cyberspace. Take a look at what they had to say:
What in the literal hell are they teaching kids in college, anymore? #wheeloffortune
— Micah White (@micahwhite) April 11, 2014
I can’t stop laughing!!! https://t.co/pwO7L0pfdZ #WheelOfFortune — Mark the Overseer (@MarkoftheBuzz) April 14, 2014
There is no reason for an honors college student to not know who #achilles is. I feel no sympathy for that guy. #WheelOfFortune
— Rachel Stewart (@Rachelstew91) April 14, 2014
Painful to watch: #WheelOfFortune contestant throws away $4mill because he can’t read. https://t.co/hycnNLpowR — Alex Brauer (@AlexThePhotog) April 14, 2014
note 2 self: learn how to properly pronounce Greek methology heroes. Never know when it will pay out $1 Million! #WheelOfFortune #EpicFail
— Erica Enjady (@Enjady505) April 14, 2014
Watching this replay from #WheelOfFortune is PAINFUL…every time. @theviewtv #HotTopics — Lonnell Williams (@3LWTV) April 14, 2014
OK…the real question is …how did that dude make it to the wheel on #WheelOfFortune to begin with??!! LOL
— Murray S. Rowe (@MurraySRowe) April 14, 2014
Was this kid the worst #WheelOfFortune contestant ever? https://t.co/cdj15BQbPh — The Todd Show (@thetoddshow) April 14, 2014
Dude on wheel of fortune … I have no words lol Achilles he said HShellies? Fastest can? Dicespin? Lol and he still won #WheelOfFortune
— Leah Swartz (@L_Swartz) April 11, 2014
So, in a nut shell. He lost the following: 1. trip to London 2. trip to Jamaica 3. $1,000,000.00 4. new car 5. his MIND! #WheelOfFortune — Freddy Matos (@fredsaysright) April 11, 2014
I am so embarrassed for this guy who solved the entire puzzle but could not pronounce Achilles. #WheelOfFortune #GreekMythologyFailure
— Eve Laren (@EveLaRen) April 11, 2014
LOLLLLLL I’m done with life, wheel of fortune killed me today #WheelOfFortune — Amanmeet Kang (@amanmeet_kang) April 11, 2014
That same guy just lost $12,000, a car and a trip to the Bahamas for a puzzle any other human alive would have solved. #WheelOfFortune
— Sean Gerski (@DoubleDown44) April 11, 2014
Contestant on #WheelOfFortune landed on #1milliondollars , finished the puzzle, and then mispronounced “Achilles.” What a bummer! — Holly Baker (@HollyBakerNBC) April 11, 2014
Ur boy just made IU look bad @SmoothHoosier #WheelOfFortune