Ryan Seacrest Candidly Says ‘Relationships’ Are His ‘Biggest Fear’ During ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Episode

Ryan Seacrest isn’t holding anything back when it comes to discussing his personal life while hosting Wheel of Fortune! The TV personality made a shocking comment about his love life during an episode of the show on Tuesday, March 11.

While Ryan, 50, was conversing with contestant Jill McDaniel, she revealed that she has “discussion dinners” with her friends where they ask each other interesting questions. When Ryan asked Jill what type of questions she asked at the dinners, she said, “What is your biggest fear?”

This prompted Ryan to ask letter-turner Vanna White what her biggest fear was.

“Oh, my biggest fear? Erm … spiders? Spiders is a big one,” she confessed. “How about you?”

What Ryan blurted out next was pretty surprising for some viewers. “Relationships,” he said candidly.

Jill appreciated the answer, giving Ryan a fist bump for his honesty, prompting him to make a cheeky comment.

“We are each other’s people,” the American Idol host responded.

It’s been nearly a year since Ryan and his girlfriend, Aubrey Paige Petcosky, broke up.

“After three beautiful years together, Ryan and Aubrey have mutually decided to part ways,” a source close to the couple told People in April 2024 of their split. “They plan to stay in each other’s lives as good friends and support one another’s endeavors.”

Ryan, who has never been engaged or married, previously revealed that he was interested in getting married at some point.

“I love the idea [of getting married],” he said back while cohosting Live With Kelly and Ryan in 2017. “I know you’re going to ask me of marriage because my parents have been married for 47 years, and so I have this thing … I figure the longer I wait, the older I’ll be, the closer to death I am, so I can get it in and not screw it up.”

That same year, Ryan said that he did get close to proposing to one of his past partners. He did not name which partner it was.

“I did get close and I didn’t do it and it was the right move,” the entertainment mogul said. “But I love the idea — and I know you’re going to ask me — of marriage because my parents have been married for 47 years, and so I have this thing — and you’ve been married 21.”

Prior to dating model Aubrey Paige, Ryan was in an on-and-off relationship with Shayna Taylor from 2013 to 2020 before they split for the third and final time.

“Ryan and Shayna decided to end their romantic relationship amicably some time ago,” a rep for the former couple told People in June 2020. “They remain good friends, each other’s biggest supporters and will always cherish their time together as a couple.”

Their breakup came just a month after Ryan shared a message for Shayna, 32, on Live With Kelly and Ryan.

“I just want to say, happy third anniversary to Shayna,” he said on the show at the time. “It is our third time together. So we’ve gotten together, broken up, gotten together, broken up. This is number three of being together. So we’re celebrating as well.”