‘New York Times’ races to change Wordle answer to avoid conflict

The paper scrambled to change its signature game on Monday to remove an answer that might be editorial on recent news

‘The New York Times’ said millions of people play Wordle each day. AFP

The New York Times was quick to change Monday’s answer to its daily Wordle puzzle out of fear that it would be seen as some sort of editorial on the debate over abortion rights.

The game, which became a sensation late last year and was bought by the paper in January, gives users six tries to guess a different five-letter word each day.

Vice President Kamala Harris recently cooled her long-time 'Wordle' winning streak. AP

Yet The Times scrambled when it discovered that Monday’s word, which had been entered into Wordle’s computer program last year, was “fetus”.

The timing could be seen as less than random given last week’s leaked report of a draft US Supreme Court decision that would strike down a 50-year-old ruling governing the ability of women to receive abortions.

The appearance of “fetus” was “entirely unintentional and a coincidence,” the newspaper said in a message to readers on Monday.

“At New York Times Games, we take our role seriously as a place to entertain and escape, and we want Wordle to remain distinct from the news,” the message said.

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, the major ruling that for nearly 50 years has guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion. EPA

Abortion rights advocates march outside the Supreme Court in Washington. EPA

Emily Milford holds her protest sign during a rally in front of the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida. The Florida Times-Union / AP

People participate in a protest in Foley Square, in New York City, New York, New York. Reuters

Demonstrators march through downtown following a rally in support of abortion rights in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images / AFP

Demonstrators during an abortion rights protest outside a courthouse in Los Angeles, California. Bloomberg

Demonstrators during an abortion rights protest in Los Angeles, California. Bloomberg

Protesters gather at the steps of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing during a rally organised by Planned Parenthood. The Grand Rapids Press via AP

Protesters demonstrate outside the US Supreme Court in Washington. Bloomberg

Demonstrators gather during a rally in support of abortion rights in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images / AFP

Abortion rights campaigners demonstrate outside of the US Federal Courthouse in Tucson, Arizona. Reuters

Women protest outside a courthouse in Tucson. Reuters

Demonstrators make signs at a rally in Tucson. Reuters

A woman holds up a flag during a protest in Foley Square in New York. Reuters

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade ends women's right to abortions. Reuters

People demonstrate during an abortion rights rally in Tucson. Reuters

Protesters blocks streets during an abortion rights rally in Tucson. Reuters

Demonstrators march in the streets after protesting outside of the US Courthouse in Los Angeles, California, after a draft of the court's decision was released several weeks ago. AP

Demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during an abortion rights protest in Los Angeles. Bloomberg

Demonstrators protest outside of the US Courthouse in Los Angeles. AP

Two police officers are surrounded by a group of abortion rights demonstrators near Pershing Square in Los Angeles. AP

The Times changed Monday’s answer to a different word, and a spokesman said that a “vast majority” of users saw that. But some people who had not refreshed their browsers saw “fetus” instead, spokesman Jordan Cohen said.

He would not say whether The Times had received any complaints about “fetus”.

The puzzle was invented by Josh Wardle, a software engineer in Brooklyn, as a gift and took off when he began posting it online. Players guess words and home in on the correct answer as the game tells them if their guesses contain letters in the word of the day.

The Times bought his invention for more than $1 million and is revamping the technology to make sure every user sees the same word every day, the newspaper said.

Mr Cohen said millions of people play Wordle each day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report