Jen Feldman, a two-time “Jeopardy!” champion and high school teacher based in Brooklyn, New York City, recently revealed an unexpected reaction from her students regarding a particular aspect of her personal life – her vegetarianism.
During the personal interview segment of the game show, Feldman explained her students’ surprising response upon discovering her dietary preference. She stated that her students, a diverse group from the Lower East Side, are generally liberal-minded about various issues. However, the news of her being a vegetarian tends to leave them speechless. “I work with a really awesome, diverse group of kids… But the second that they find out I’m a vegetarian…,” she said.
The host, Ken Jennings, was intrigued by this revelation and asked if her vegetarianism was indeed an issue for her students. Feldman confirmed this, leaving Jennings surprised as he assumed that the Gen Z population would be more accepting of such dietary choices. Feldman admitted that she too was taken aback by her students’ strong reaction towards her vegetarianism, even joking that it was a deal-breaker for them. Jennings, however, offered words of reassurance, suggesting that over time, her students might grow to accept it.
She made quite an impression with her candid interview, and the clip was soon posted on the official “Jeopardy!” Instagram page, eliciting numerous responses. One respondent, claiming to be a student of Feldman’s, corroborated her account. Other fans found the segment amusing and enjoyable, with one humorously suggesting that the situation might have been worse had she revealed herself to be a vegan.
Feldman’s performance on “Jeopardy!” was particularly noteworthy. In her latest appearances on September 19th and 20th, she amassed a total score of $14,050, outpacing competitors Santhosh Sastry and Sarah Preisinger by a significant gap. Unfortunately, her winning streak came to an end on September 23, 2024, when she lost in the final round to David Erb, who emerged victorious with a total of $17,655. Feldman finished the game with a score of $4,799, which placed her third.
Despite the end of her winning streak, Feldman’s wit, charisma, and insightful classroom anecdotes will likely remain memorable among fans.
