Vanna White Confused as Fans Call Son Nikko a ‘Thirst Trap’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — “Wheel of Fortune” co-host Vanna White found herself puzzled after fans dubbed her son, Nikko Santo Pietro, a “thirst trap” following a cooking video she shared on Instagram. The 67-year-old TV personality admitted she was unfamiliar with the slang term during a recent episode of the long-running game show.

“I recently posted a video of me and my son, Nikko, cooking, and it got a lot of response,” White told co-host Ryan Seacrest, as the audience cheered. “I don’t get it,” she added with a shrug. Seacrest, 50, explained that fans had noticed Santo Pietro, 30, wearing a snug white T-shirt in the clip, leading to the playful label.

“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 revealed they had prepared “Uncle Roy’s Chicken,” prompting Seacrest to quip, “Well, thank you, Uncle Roy, and thank you, Nikko, for that tight shirt.”

White later teased another cooking video, which she posted the same day. The new clip featured the mother-son duo preparing parsnip soup, with White captioning it, “Whether you’re a parsnip lover or have never tried them before, we have the perfect soup for you to make at home!” Fans once again flooded the comments, praising the pair’s chemistry and culinary skills.

Santo Pietro, a real estate agent at The Agency, owned by Mauricio Umansky, said the attention was “flattering.” “I’ve always loved being in front of the camera, and I work really hard on my social media,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “That’s a big part of what I do, so it feels natural and good.”

Despite the newfound fame, Santo Pietro emphasized that he remains grounded. “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. “Making an impact is what it is to me.”

White, who shares Santo Pietro and daughter Gigi with ex-husband George Santo Pietro, praised her son’s work ethic. “He’s such a good kid! I always taught both of my children, you have to work hard to get things; it’s not just given to you. And he’s doing it,” she said.

Santo Pietro also revealed he is in a committed relationship with singer-songwriter Easae, who wrote a song about him titled “Karaoke.” “She’s an absolute sweetheart,” he said. White added, “She’s so sweet, she really is, down-to-earth, loving, giving.”

As for potential TV appearances, White hinted that fans might see Santo Pietro on “Wheel of Fortune” in the future. “I would love that,” she said, noting that Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, has appeared on the show multiple times, including filling in for White during Sajak’s absence in 2020.

While Santo Pietro admitted he might not excel at the game, he expressed enthusiasm for participating. “I don’t know how well I’d play the game, but I’d love to participate at some level,” he said.