For several years now, Survivor contestants haven't been allowed to wear swimsuits during the game, but that may be about to change. Though Survivor allowed swimsuits for many seasons, the show barred swimsuits in 2018, forcing contestants to wear underwear for the entire game instead. Though the decision has been met with backlash, there was no official acknowledgment of the change on the show itself. At the time of the change, host and executive producer Jeff Probst claimed the idea to ban swimsuits was sparked by a conversation he had with Tyler Perry, a noted Survivor fan.

This wasn't the first time an idea of Perry's made it onto the show. Survivor fans may recall Survivor: Cagayan's Super Idol, which eventual winner Tony Vlachos found and memorably wielded as part of his "bag of tricks." The idol's introduction to the game (or re-introduction, as a similar idol was present in earlier seasons) was inspired by a late-night text from Perry to Probst. The story became so well-known that the fanbase commonly referred to the idol as the "Tyler Perry Idol."

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Now, however, Perry is denying responsibility for the swimsuit rule change, and Probst indicates changes may be forthcoming for future seasons. In a statement to Insider, Perry explained he only wanted the swimsuits on the show to appear aged and tattered rather than "stark and brand new," not that he wanted production to get rid of them altogether. Probst defended Perry, stating the Madea actor and producer "would never suggest an idea that would be detrimental to any player, ever." Probst is aware of criticism lobbed at the decision.  "I understand the issue that has been brought up and we will absolutely address it when we return to production. I'm confident we can find a suitable solution that will resolve all the issues," Probst remarked.

Ethan Zohn, Kim Spradlin, Sophie Clarke, and Wendell Holland in Survivor 40 Winners at War

In interviews, podcast appearances, and on social media, many former Survivor players, especially women, have complained about the swimsuit rule and the health risks that accompany wearing dirty underwear for an extended period of time. Several former players have publicly discussed facing difficulties with urinary tract infections and other hygiene-related problems, and much of the Survivor fanbase is rightfully upset that the show would risk the health of its contestants for the sake of a superficial and unnecessary element of the game.

Probst's comments inspire hope that the Survivor production team is taking the complaints seriously. The current swimsuit ban adds nothing to the show's entertainment value or to the game itself. Rather, it irresponsibly risks the well-being of the competitors for no good reason. Survivor should certainly challenge its contestants, but there is a line between challenging them and forcing them to suffer for the sake of suffering. The swimsuit ban falls on the wrong side of that line and should be corrected as soon as the production team reconvenes for seasons 43 and 44.

Next: Survivor: Why Stephen Fishbach Hates The New 'Knowledge Is Power' Twist

Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Source: Insider