Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: Ryan Seacrest brings up ex Julianne on the show

Ryan Seacrest unwittingly wandered into his own love past on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, resulting in one of the show's most embarrassing moments. The emcee was casually conversing with candidate Derek Hough about Footloose, the musical in which Derek had appeared, when a mere mention of his sister, Julianne Hough, caused the entire audience to wince. Seacrest and Julianne, of course, famously dated years ago, and what began as a simple small conversation became more like live therapy.

The ABC game show Celebrity Wheel of Fortune usually thrives on breezy banter and easy laughs as celebrities compete for charity, but this exchange briefly replaced fun with secondhand embarrassment. Derek, torn between brother pride and social anxiety, attempted to calm things down by directing the conversation towards Julianne's acting abilities. Seacrest, to his credit, kept his calm and wrapped it up with professional charm, but his look indicated that he was counting down the seconds till the next spin.

In the end, no problem could surpass that moment, a rare example of real-life history crossing over into the game show realm.

What was the uncomfortable exchange between Derek and Ryan Seacrest on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune?

The awkward moment on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune kicked off when Derek Hough solved a $2,000 puzzle with the phrase Footloose and Fancy-Free. Host Ryan Seacrest casually brought up Hough’s history with Footloose, noting his time in the West End production. Hough proudly shared that he’d done over 400 performances, then added that his sister later appeared in the film remake.

That’s when things took a turn on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Seacrest who famously dated Julianne Hough acknowledged the comment with a tone that said more than words ever could. Realizing exactly where this was heading Derek tried to laugh it off joking that Seacrest obviously remembered. The tension was palpable as Seacrest flashed an uncomfortable smile at the camera and Hough scrambled to redirect the moment. He quickly praised his sister’s acting skills instead trying to move away from the personal history hanging in the air.

Seacrest smoothly wrapped things up with polite encouragement before steering the show back to safer ground. The exchange served as a brief, hilarious reminder of the pair’s intertwined past and how fast live TV can turn delightfully awkward.

The couple's eventual split made entertainment headlines, though both maintained relative privacy about specific details. Their breakup occurred as both pursued demanding career trajectories in different directions.

Julianne later reflected on the relationship during a 2024 Armchair Expert podcast appearance. She admitted concerns about public perception regarding her career motivations during their time together.

What was the social media reception like?

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune viewers quickly recognized the awkward chemistry between the former in-laws. Social media platforms were flooded with comments about the evident tension during their brief meeting.

Many supporters complimented both guys for handling the issue professionally despite their apparent discomfort. The incident illustrated how previous ties might provide unanticipated obstacles in entertainment industry encounters. The event serves as a warning for celebrities to negotiate their personal experiences while retaining a professional demeanor during live broadcast appearances. Both Seacrest and Hough navigated the unpleasant scenario without causing long-term damage to their reputations.

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Celebrity Wheel of Fortune airs Sundays on ABC with episodes available to stream next day on Hulu.

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