Ryan Seacrest is settling into his new hosting role on Wheel of Fortune following Pat Sajak’s retirement.
But one report says Seacrest is struggling with anxiety over the pressure his new gig comes with.
“Ryan tends to bite off more than he can chew,” a source told Closer.
Not only does Ryan radio and host American Idol, as he’s done for decades, he’s also reportedly working on a new cooking series.
How Ryan Is Reportedly Handling His Anxiety
“He’s a bundle of nerves right now, but he wanted to be the next Dick Clark and that’s what he’s become. He’s only human, though — and filling Pat Sajak’s huge shoes on Wheel of Fortune is a challenge of epic proportions,” the source continued.
Though Seacrest is taping episodes currently, they won’t air until September. The insider says Ryan is doing various things to manage his anxiety during this stressful time.
“He’s doing everything possible to cope with the inevitable nerves ahead of his hosting gig, and that includes getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and listening to audio books for anxiety because Ryan never knows how to clock off on his own,” they claimed.
Ryan has been on television for years, so he’s no stranger to gearing up for a new camera-facing role. But the source says he’s exhausted all his tried-and-true methods, emphasizing how big of a deal Wheel of Fortune is for Ryan’s career.
“He has many other tricks up his sleeve he’s found to be highly beneficial,” they went on. “Just going outside for a breath of fresh air and sunshine helps him to chill when he’s feeling anxious, and you can bet he’ll have a cozy, air-conditioned trailer at the studio where he can retreat to unwind.”
“And he’s doing yoga and chanting mantras. He has someone play Tibetan singing bowls for deep relaxation, and he loves his essential oils, aromatherapy diffusers and massages,” they further added, noting that Ryan is also a lover of calming teas, like chamomile, to help manage stress levels.
Ryan Is Allegedly “Terrified” Of Failing
This isn’t the first report to claim Ryan is struggling to adjust to his new role, especially given the big shoes he has to fill with Sajak’s departure, who had hosted the long-running game show since 1981, alongside co-host Vanna White.
“Despite his glittering résumé, Seacrest is terrified,” a source told Closer in May. “He breezed through hosting Idol and had Kelly Ripa to lean on during Live — but Wheel is a different beast altogether.”
There was also controversy around Ryan’s role, considering reports he was making a million-dollar salary (with some estimates suggesting it could be as much as $10 million a season), whereas Vanna hadn’t seen a pay raise in nearly two decades. She apparently lawyered up and was able to negotiate a new, undisclosed pay amid threats to leave the show completely.
Ryan has only expressed excitement about his new Wheel of Fortune gig and hasn’t addressed the speculation surrounding his anxiety.
