Amy Schneider.Photo: Courtesy Jeopardy Productions, Inc.
With a spirit of sarcasm, Schneider pointed to the recurring tweets, writing, “I’d like to thank all the people who have taken the time, during this busy holiday season, to reach out and explain to me that, actually, I’m a man.”
“Every single one of you is the first person ever to make that very clever point, which had never once before crossed my mind,” she added.
While many applauded Schneider’s winning streak, others criticized Schneider, arguing that she wasn’t assigned female at birth.
“As a pastor, I want to apologize for what you’ve had to endure,” one clergy member commented. “It is my tradition that owns the sin of homo/transphobia. I’m grateful, tho, [sic] for your strength, and for not believing those vicious lies. Thank u for your strength, for standing tall, and inspiring us. Peace to you.”
RELATED VIDEO: Jeopardy! Champion Matt Amodio Loses Game Ending Long-Running Streak After 38 Consecutive Wins
A few even spoke of the power that Schneider has in changing the opinions of those who haven’t accepted transgender individuals in the past.
“Somehow, after 2-3 years of conversation, you being onJeopardyevery night has taught my dad to be accepting of trans people,” one Twitter user wrote. “You’re the first person he’s used correct pronouns with, an 83-year-old man, saying ‘this isn’t too hard.'”
In Schneider’s 20th game, which officially tied her with the record of Collins, shespoke of the previous record holder.
“Obviously being such a successful woman on the show is, you know, meaningful to me,” said Schneider, reflecting on Collins’ streak. “But I also just liked that she played very straightforward, and just being smart, [and] just being fast on that buzzer… I liked that about her, as well.”
Schneider’s current winnings on the show are $855,600 — the fifth-highest all-time winnings amount of anyJeopardy!player in the show’s history, according to theJeopardy! website.
She’s also placed in the series' Tournament of Champions, an annual competition involving players who racked up the most wins in the previous season.
At the time of publishing, Schneider has won 23 consecutive games. She’ll appear on the series for her 24th episode on Monday.
source: people.com
