Vanna White *Finally* Addresses Rumors of Drama With Wheel of Fortune Co-Host Ryan Seacrest
Vanna White is shutting down rumors that she and her new Wheel of Fortune co-host Ryan Seacrest do not get along. The longtime letter turner took to Instagram on July 9 to clear up speculation about her and Seacrest’s working relationship following former host Pat Sajak’s retirement.
Alongside a photo of the pair enjoying a meal together, White penned: “Friends on and off camera. Enjoying one of our favorites, Chicken and Dumplings!” Seacrest commented on the post and wrote: “Always a treat! Here’s to more fun moments and delicious bites ??!”
More from Soaps.com
Several fans also commented and praised the duo for taking the high road. “I never listened to tabloids. Have a fabulous night!” one fan wrote. “You two will make a great team. Can’t wait,” a second viewer chimed in. A handful of fans showed support for Seacrest as well, with one fan writing: “Give the man a chance!!! No, he’s not Pat, but give him a chance!!!” Another added: “Don’t listen to all those naysayers. You are a great choice and will do well.”
More: Pat Sajak’s Salary on Wheel of Fortune Revealed
Rumors that White and Seacrest were struggling to get along first began swirling in early June, when sources told The Daily Mail that White might retire before her contract ends in 2026. “Vanna is retiring from the show when her contract ends, but there is a part of her that wants to walk away sooner,” the insider told said. “It is just so difficult to do this without Pat … She just doesn’t jibe with Ryan like she did with Pat, and no one really ever expected her to. There is just no way that she possibly could.”
“Vanna feels that she has put her time in. She devoted her entire life to this show and she had an incredible run while making a fortune,” the source continued. “She knows that the show needs to go in a different direction and appeal to a younger demographic. She wants the show to continue. This will require a younger female host, someone who can be to Ryan what she was to Pat.”
More: Here’s When Ryan Seacrest Starts Hosting Wheel of Fortune
The insider also claimed that Wheel of Fortune is hoping to replace White, who has been co-hosting the show since 1982, in the near future. “Wheel wants to make the transition between Pat and Ryan seamless and having Vanna there would be wonderful to make that all happen,” the source said. “They want her next contract though to be her last contract so there is a little more maneuverability to change things up in a few years when they look for her replacement.”
While White made it clear with her post that there is no truth to these claims, she has spoken about her hesitation to do the show without Sajak in the past. “When I heard that Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too,” she told TV Insider shortly after Sajak announced his departure. She added: “But I’m not ready! We’ll see toward the end of those two years how I feel. I thank God after all these years that I still love my job.”
More: See Vanna White’s Wheel of Fortune Salary
White’s contract renewal also came with some negotiation drama. In July 2023, TMZ reported that White had allegedly asked for 50 percent of what Sajak was making. A second source refuted that claim and said White wanted pay parity with the longtime host after earning approximately $3 million a year for the 18 past years without any pay increases.
After reaching a deal that September, White told PEOPLE that she found it difficult to read about the negotiations online. “It was because people just have rumors,” she said. “Everything is so blown out of proportion, not just with my stuff, with everybody’s stuff.”
For more on primetime, check out this gallery on your favorite primetime stars’ real-life partners.
