Survivor is an American television show that made a name for itself a long time ago. People on an island compete to survive the conditions and try not to get voted off.
But for the first time in 39 seasons, the show did something it has never done before.
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Dan Spilo was removed from the show for inappropriate behavior and touching.
The show has never removed a contestant before, so fans were actually surprised that they took the initiative to do something about it.
For the first time, ‘Survivor’ has gotten rid of a contestant for behavioral issues.
“Dan’s inappropriate touching has been an issue/story line all season long, beginning back in episode one when contestant Kellee Kim told Dan she was uncomfortable with the way he touched her.”
Production had to step in so that things weren’t taken too far.
“When the behavior continued even after Kelle spoke to Dan and asked him to stop, production stepped in on day 22 of the game and issued an official warning to the player about his behavior.”
But the warning was not enough, and so they took further measures to make sure he would not do it to anyone else.
“Fourteen days later, producers pulled Dan from the game for his latest transgression.” a statement reads.
The host and executive producer Jeff Probst wasn’t able to give any more details.
“I’ve endeavored to be as forthcoming as possible with you regarding everything that has happened this season. In this situation, out of respect for privacy and confidentiality, I can’t say anymore.”
What a scandal!
But he did go a little more into detail on how the game has changed throughout the years.
“It has been an unprecedented season. Complex social issues were woven into the game in a way we have never seen before.”
The reason why it seemed to take so long was because they had to go through a lot of paperwork before anything got done.
“With our contestants’ welfare at the forefront, we have spent a lot of time discussing every layer of the situation with human resources, diversity and inclusion representatives, show therapists, lawyers, publicists, and standards and practices.”
But they were adament on making the right decision for Kellee Kim, the victim, and the show.
“We all worked diligently throughout the entire process to make the right decisions and portray an accurate depiction of what took place. We have learned a lot and it will inform our process moving forward.”
When Spilo found out that he was going to be removed from the show, rather than kicked off, he was not happy.
“When we first told Dan we were pulling him from the game, he was not happy. We talked through everything for quite a while, and by the time he got on the boat to leave he had calmed down and was actually very respectful as he departed.”
And it actually created a complication for the game, since they were so close to the final season.
“[It was] a very complicated situation for the players. They’re on day 35 of 39. They’re very close to the end. They’re also in a state of ‘eyes on the prize.’”
But luckily, no one pressed for details, and everyone went on with their lives.
“And because they did not receive more information for privacy reasons, they seemed to accept the news and moved on with the game.”
But the conversation continued on Twitter, with the woman who was voted off, who was also the victim. Kellee Kim.
The woman he inappropriately touched, Kellee Kim, spoke about what happened on Twitter.
She got incredibly candid about what had happened to her.
Although it was personal, telling her story online definitely inspires other victims to do the same.
She expressed her sadness and fear that people have to have when they are subjected to this kind of behavior.
“While Dan’s dismissal has validated the concerns that I raised from the beginning of this season, I wish that no one else had to be subjected to this type of behavior.”
Worse still, after she accused Spilo of the behavior, she was voted off the island.
They apologized, but it truly was too little too late.
“I’ve continued to feel disappointed by how this pattern of behavior was allowed to occur for so long.”
Because of everything that has happened, the show’s reunion this year won’t be live, and instead, be prerecorded.
EW’s source says this is for “security concerns for the contestants and to make sure the players feel as comfortable and safe as possible while discussing what happened out on the island.”
Hopefully, Spilo changes his ways.