Alex Trebek delivers touching posthumous plea for kindness during pandemic: ‘Open up your hearts’

Prior to his death on November 8th, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek recorded a powerful Thanksgiving message of hope and gratitude. This Monday marked the beginning of the final week of Trebek’s episodes, and it began with another touching request from the beloved host.

“This is the season of giving,” said Trebek. “I know you want to be generous with your family, your friends, your loved ones. But today, I'd like you to go one step further. I'd like you to open up your hands and open up your hearts to those who are still suffering because of COVID-19. People who are suffering through no fault of their own. We're trying to build a gentler, kinder society and if we all pitch in -- just a little bit -- we're gonna get there."

The kind message left many viewers emotional. One viewer wrote on Twitter, “Oh man. Alex Trebek's message about kindness at the beginning of today's ‘Jeopardy!’ episode really hit me in the feels, such a wonderful man.”

Video Transcript

ALEX TREBEK: You'll recall that about a month ago, I asked all of you to take a moment to give thanks for all of the blessings that you enjoy in your lives. Now, today, a different kind of message.

- Prior to his death on November 8, "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek recorded a powerful Thanksgiving message of hope and gratitude. This Monday marked the beginning of the final week of Alex's episodes, and it began with a touching request from the beloved host.

ALEX TREBEK: This is the season of giving. I know you want to be generous with your family, your friends, your loved ones. But today I'd like you to go one step further. I'd like you to open up your hands and open up your heart to those who are still suffering because of COVID-19, people who are suffering through no fault of their own.

- The kind message left many viewers emotional, like this viewer who wrote, "Oh man. Alex Trebek's message about kindness at the beginning of today's @Jeopardy episode really hit me in the fields. Such a wonderful man."

And as charitable food lines continue to grow and states across the country brace for a postholiday rise in the deadly disease, the host's posthumous plea could not have been any more relevant and meaningful.

ALEX TREBEK: We're trying to build a gentler, kinder society. And if we all pitch in just a little bit, we're going to get there.