It’s the final countdown.
On Tuesday, “Wheel of Fortune” dropped some new promotional material on their official Instagram page for the upcoming season premiering on September 11 — host Pat Sajak’s last.
But curiously enough, in the comments section, fans were defending Vanna White amid her alleged contract negotiations with the network and rumored status on the show.
The Instagram post showed a smiling photo of Sajak, 76, and White, 66, together, with the caption, “41 never looked so good” — but some viewers didn’t seem to be too pleased.
“Does Vanna get a pay raise this season?” one Instagram user asked.
Another echoed their sentiments, writing, “Probably last season since Ryan Seacrest will tank it and you won’t give Vanna a raise 😢.”
“Great job you two!!! She needs a raise already!!! What are you waiting for??? Do it!!! 💓💓💓 🙌🙌🙌,” someone else typed.
One commenter even speculated, “Season 41 already, 10 years ago it was Las Vegas, boy time flies fast, and Pats couldn’t come any sooner than it is. Vanna? I’m not sure about her contract since producers want to make changes by the time Pat leaves at the end of the season.”
The Post reached out to “Wheel of Fortune” for comment.
After Sajak announced his retirement in June, it was revealed that Ryan Seacrest, 48, would be taking his place as host, beginning in 2024.
Shortly after the announcement, Puck News reported that White hired attorney Bryan Freedman to broker a deal for her, as she allegedly hasn’t received a raise in 18 years.
The outlet claimed that the star has been making $3 million per year since 2005, while a 2016 report from Forbes alleged that Sajak cashes in a hefty $15 million a year for the hosting gig.
Her current contract runs until 2024, according to Deadline, but she has already negotiated a new contract and salary for the celebrity version of the show.
In July, one unidentified source alleged to People that White was simply asking for equal pay to Sajak in her ongoing negotiations, after some reports that she was holding out for just half of what he makes.
“50% of Pat’s salary is so outrageous that no one in their right mind could say that it’s fair,” the insider alleged to the outlet at the time.
“The negotiation is asking for much more than 50% of his salary. It’s asking for the same pay — if not more,” they continued.
The source added that White was ready to “fight for her future.”
“Vanna was told, ‘If you fight this, you will lose your job, You’re lucky to have the job.’ And when people tell you that for so long, you believe it,’” they claimed of her experiences in the past.
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