Grab the tissues.
On Monday night’s episode of “Jeopardy!,” contestant Dhruv Gaur put his heart on his screen, writing “We (heart) you Alex!” instead of a Final Jeopardy answer.
The gesture caught host Alex Trebek, who is currently battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, by surprise. The 79-year-old’s voice caught, noting the contestant bet big on the sweet note.
“That’s very kind of you, thank you. It cost you $1,995. You’re left with $5,” he said, his voice trembling. “OK.”
The emotional moment came during an episode of the annual Tournament of Champions.
Gaur, a Brown University college student majoring in economics and public health, seemed stumped during the Final Jeopardy question. Instead of throwing out an answer, the 2018 College Champion decided to write a kind message for the beloved TV host.
After the show aired on the East Coast, Gaur explained his note further.
“Sorry for west coast spoilers, but I’m really glad I got the opportunity to say to Alex what everybody at the tournament was thinking,” the college sophomore tweeted. “For context, Alex had just shared with us that he was reentering treatment for pancreatic cancer. We were all hurting for him so badly.”
Gaur continued: “When Final Jeopardy came up, I could’ve tried to puzzle it together, but really, just kept thinking about Alex, and thought he should know. I’m just very grateful I got the opportunity to say what I know everyone was thinking. Sending all the love.”
Immediately after Monday night’s episode aired, #WeLoveYouAlex started trending on Twitter.
‘Jeopardy!’ host Alex Trebekreleases pancreatic cancer PSA: ‘I wished I had known sooner’
“The guy knew he had no chance of winning the game so he wrote that… Aw. We need more people like that in the world. So darn sweet. #WeLoveYouAlex,” tweeted @waitng4thtdance.
“I truly hope Alex Trebek knows how much joy he has brought into our homes for so many years. #WeLoveyouAlex,” tweeted @amberlywaves.
“Of all shows, Jeopardy has managed to make me cry. #WeLoveYouAlex,” tweeted @Zeeshakes.
“Watching Alex Trebek get choked up during Final Jeopardy when a contestant burned his answer to share a special message, is more than I can handle tonight #WeLoveYouAlex,” shared @AminaBrattke.
Trebek first revealed his cancer diagnosis in March. In October, the TV host said he was completing his second round of chemotherapy.
“I will keep doing (the show) as long as my skills do not diminish. And they have started to diminish,” Trebek said, noting a chemo side effect occasionally makes him slur his words. “When I feel my skills have diminished to the point where I notice and am bothered by it because all the people around me are saying, ‘No, it’s OK!’ But there will come a point when they’re no longer able to say ‘It’s OK’ … We’ll play it by ear and keep chunking along until we either win or lose.”
He added: “The thought of the pancreatic cancer does not frighten me. I’m not afraid of dying. One thing they’re not going to say at my funeral as part of a eulogy: ‘He was taken from us too soon.’ I’m 79 years old. I have lived a good life, a full life and I’m nearing the end of that life. I know that. I’m not going to delude myself.”
