Vanna White, the beloved co-host of "Wheel of Fortune," faced a wave of online vitriol after attending the PGA’s ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina last week. The 69-year-old TV icon was spotted in a casual golf shirt and green pants, her signature blonde locks pulled back into a ponytail, as she addressed the crowd.
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But instead of celebrating her presence, keyboard warriors took to social media to unleash a barrage of insults. “Crazy how old she got. Look at her arms. I hate getting old,” one troll spat, while another cruelly remarked, “Her hands look 90.” A third chimed in with disbelief, “Wow, I can’t believe how much she aged. She looks older than she is.”
As the negativity swirled, White’s loyal fans sprang into action, flooding the comments section with support. “These comments are unbelievable,” one defender wrote. “She’s a 69-year-old beautiful, kind woman whose highest priority in life has not been chasing every wrinkle, unlike most celebrities now. She’s an icon!”
Another fan lamented the rudeness surrounding aging: “It’s sad when people make such rude comments about aging! Vanna, you look great!” A third added, “Love Vanna. Always so gracious. And beautiful,” while yet another praised her for “aging gracefully” without succumbing to the plastic surgery epidemic.
White’s representative has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the backlash. The actress recently tied the knot with John Donaldson in January and has been a staple on "Wheel of Fortune" for over 40 years, first joining as the show’s charming letter-turner in December 1982.
In a twist of fate, White isn’t the only "Wheel of Fortune" star facing scrutiny; Ryan Seacrest also found himself under fire for his appearance at a charity event earlier this month. Critics labeled him “sickly” and expressed concern over his weight loss. “Ryan, your fans are worried about your appearance,” one comment read alongside photos from the Taste for a Cure fundraiser.
Despite the harsh words, Seacrest’s supporters quickly came to his defense. A source close to him reassured fans that he is “doing and looking fantastic” and dismissed any negative stories as false.
As the battle rages on between trolls and defenders, one thing is clear: Vanna White remains an enduring symbol of grace and resilience in the face of ageism and online cruelty.
