Lupita N'yongo was named People magazine's Most Beautiful person on Wednesday, but she didn't win the Most Pronounceable Name award.
N'yongo's last name is Kenyan, and is pronounced similar to "en-YON-go." But as Jimmy Kimmel pointed out on Wednesday's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," news anchors across the country tied their tongues up in knots just attempting to give it a go. But they gave it the old journalism-school try.
Neyong?
New-ong?
Nin-yongo?
Nee-yango?
New-ongo?
One anchor just gave up entirely, introducing Nyong'o simply as "Lupita," as if she was Cher or Madonna.
“I wish people had asked John Travolta to announce Lupita Nyong’o's name,” Kimmel said. “He did such a nice job at the Oscars.”
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Lupita Nyong'o and her colorful wardrobe
Travolta will never live down his infamous Oscar-night mulching of "Frozen" star and Broadway singer Idina Menzel's name, turning it into "Adela Nazeem."
In fact, perhaps the anchors should've tried Slate's John Travolta Name Generator, which Travoltifys any name entered into it. When Travoltified, Nyong'o's name comes out as "Louisa Nicheems."
Give Nyong'o (Nicheems?) the last word: She's even recorded the pronunciation of her name.
Follow Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, who is quite familiar with mispronounced names, on Google+.