Author Jodi Picoult reveals the correct pronunciation of her name: “Ummm”
Now that’s a real pickle.
Famed author Jodi Picoult, 56, stunned fans this week when she revealed how to pronounce her last name correctly in a TikTok video.
The Long Islander native has published more than two dozen novels, including My Sister’s Keeper, which was adapted into the 2009 hit film of the same name, starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin.
But her fame didn’t help with the pronunciation of her name.
“Hey, this is Jodi,” says Picoult in the 34-second clip, which was viewed by nearly a million viewers in just two days.
“I’ve heard that since I joined TikTok there has been some discussion about how to pronounce my name.”
The author remarked, “You all get Jodi right, but you’re not sure about the last half.”
Then came the plot twist. She explained that her last name is pronounced “pico,” as in pico de gallo, and held up a glass of salsa to make her point.
In her video, the “Mad Honey” author debunked other pronunciations she had heard people say.
She stated her last name was not “Pea-coat”, “Pea-cult” or “Pea-colt”.
Viewers were shocked by the novel idea.
“I’ve read about 20 of your books and got it wrong the whole time,” one person announced.
Another agreed, revealing: “Omg Jodi! I’ve been a fan of yours since middle school and I’m pronouncing it wrong 😩.”
“And that’s why I always used the JP initials 😂 whenever I said it out loud,” claimed another. “Because I knew I said it wrong.”
One user even joked, “Um, I don’t [think] So. I’ve read your books for years. Maybe you’re saying it wrong! 😂.”
Speaking to the Daily Beast in 2012, Picoult admitted she had a hard time breaking into the publishing industry.
Her first book, Songs of the Humpback Whale, was published in 1992.
“I’ve had over 100 rejection letters from agents,” she confessed. “Finally, a woman who had never represented anyone in her life said she thought she could take me on. I jumped at the chance. She sold my first novel in three months.”
Some of Picoult’s other titles include Wish You Were Here, Nineteen Minutes, The Book of Two Ways and Salem Falls, which was made into a TV movie in 2011, starring Sarah Carter and James Van Der Beek.
Her books often deal with romance, relationships and family matters.
Picoult doesn’t play the name-shame game alone. Adele and Brendan Fraser recently revealed that we mispronounced their names too.
https://nypost.com/2023/03/21/author-jodi-picoult-reveals-proper-pronunciation-of-her-name-ummm/ Author Jodi Picoult reveals the correct pronunciation of her name: “Ummm”
