“Wheel of Fortune” icon Vanna White recently found herself scratching her head after social media users labeled her son, Nikko Santo Pietro, a “thirst trap.”
The 67-year-old game show co-host shared a cooking video featuring herself and her son,
which unexpectedly led to fans raving about Nikko’s looks rather than the dish they prepared.
Vanna White’s Surprise at the Viral Response
During a recent episode of Wheel of Fortune, White brought up the unexpected reaction to the video, telling co-host Ryan Seacrest,
“I recently posted a video of me and my son, Nikko, cooking, and it got a lot of response.” The studio audience erupted into cheers, but White was still confused by the attention.
“I don’t get it,” she admitted with a shrug, clearly unfamiliar with the meaning of the phrase “thirst trap.”
Seacrest, 50, stepped in to explain, “The kids are calling Nikko a thirst trap.” He then elaborated, pointing out that in the clip, Nikko was wearing a particularly snug white T-shirt that drew attention from fans.
“Apparently, that was a very tight—he went to the Baby Gap to buy that shirt,” Seacrest joked. “It was very tight, and they found him strikingly good-looking. And no one knows what you cooked.”
White laughed before clarifying that she and her son had been making a family recipe called “Uncle Roy’s Chicken.”
Fans Can’t Get Enough of Nikko Santo Pietro
Following the initial video, fans flooded the comments with praise for White’s 30-year-old son. Many were quick to compliment his appearance, with messages like:
“Vanna, where have you been hiding Nikko? He’s GORGEOUS!”
“Your son is hot!!!”
“He’s adorable!”
The overwhelming response led White to tease a follow-up video, telling Seacrest, “I’ll be posting another one on Thursday.” He playfully responded, “Oh boy! What’s it going to be?”
Nikko Reacts to His Unexpected Popularity
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Nikko addressed the unexpected wave of attention, admitting that the comments were flattering.
“Obviously, I had an outpouring from her fans just really being kind and saying all kinds of interesting stuff in the comments,” he shared.
Nikko, who works as a real estate agent with The Agency, a firm owned by Mauricio Umansky (ex-husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards), explained that he has always enjoyed being in front of the camera and puts effort into maintaining an active social media presence.
“I’ve always loved being in front of the camera, and I work really hard on my social media. That’s a big part of what I do, so it feels natural and good.”
Despite all the attention, Nikko remains humble, stating that while he appreciates the praise, he remains focused on meaningful aspects of life, such as charity work and his career.
“People see me as this heartthrob, and they’re thirsty for me and all this stuff. I love it all, but at the same time, it’s really good to remember the meaningful things in life,” he said.
Vanna White’s Thoughts on Her Son’s Success
White couldn’t be prouder of her son and was quick to express her admiration for his work ethic.
“He’s such a good kid!” she said. “I always taught both of my children that you have to work hard to get things; it’s not just given to you. And he’s doing it.”
White shares Nikko and his sister, Gigi, with her ex-husband, restaurateur George Santo Pietro.
Sorry Fans—Nikko Is Off the Market!
For those hoping Nikko might be single, he confirmed that he is happily in a relationship.
“I have an amazing girlfriend,” he revealed. “She’s an absolute sweetheart. She’s a singer-songwriter. We’ve been together for a year, and she wrote a song about me. It’s really sweet that she did that.”
His girlfriend, Easae, even penned a song about him titled “Karaoke,” which he proudly mentioned.
White wholeheartedly approves of Easae, calling her “so sweet, down-to-earth, loving, and giving.”
Could Nikko Appear on Wheel of Fortune?
With all the buzz surrounding him, some fans have started wondering if Nikko might follow in his mother’s footsteps and make an appearance on Wheel of Fortune. White acknowledged the possibility, noting that her former co-host Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, has been involved with the show for years, even stepping in as a guest host when Sajak underwent surgery.
“I would love that,” White said, addressing whether her son might appear on the show in some capacity.
Nikko himself seemed open to the idea, adding, “I don’t know how well I’d play the game, but I’d love to participate at some level.”
A Fun Moment That Turned Into a Viral Sensation
What started as a simple cooking video between a mother and son quickly turned into a viral moment, sparking laughs, admiration, and plenty of comments from fans. While White may not have understood the “thirst trap” label at first, she took the situation in stride, and Nikko handled his newfound popularity with grace.
With his growing presence online and potential TV appearances in the future, this may not be the last time fans see or hear about Nikko Santo Pietro.
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