The first-ever winner of Survivor, Richard Hatch has blamed Jeff Probst for not being able to return for season 40, Survivor: Winners at War. Richard was cast as a villain, a part that he played well but a part that also cost him a third chance at becoming the last one standing.
Survivor first aired back in May of 2000 and was a big hit among CBS viewers. The focal point of the contest is to place a group of strangers from unique places in life on an isolated island where they have to find their own food, water, shelter, and fire. Each week, the contestants compete in physical and mental challenges that grant them rewards like rewards or immunity from elimination. A contestant is then eliminated by their fellow castmates until one is left to claim the one-million-dollar prize.
Former Survivor contestant and first-ever winner, Richard Hatch was told he would not be returning for season 40, because according to host Jeff Probst, Hatch doesn’t represent the show. This past season saw severe implications for contestants who behaved badly, and CBS would like to avoid more issues like that in the future. The 58-year-old survivor was known for being the black sheep of the tribe, notably for walking around the island naked and refusing to put on clothes even for the challenges which ruffled feathers around camp. Six years after scheming and plotting his way to the million dollars, the reality star was sentenced to 51 months in jail for failing to pay taxes on his winnings. Hatch’s crude behavior earned him a ticket home in 2004, when he appeared on the All-Stars season for which he was caught rubbing himself up against fellow contestant Sue Hawk.
During an interview for the Domenick Nati Show on Tuesday, Hatch claimed that he had been invited to join the season 40 cast, agreed to take part, and had gone through the pre-show evaluations. The Survivor winner also claimed that Probst was lying in interviews when he said that Hatch had never been considered. Hatch also believed that Probst was homophobic and would often use coded language which was "reflective of that homophobia." The openly gay men believed that Probst "abused his power" and never treated the contestants with any respect.
Fans have noticed that among the many titans of the game that Hatch is noticeably missing from the current season. While the villain often left mouths agape after each episode, he also brought in 54 million viewers in the first season which allowed CBS to continue with the success of the show. It is unlikely Hatch will ever be seen again on a Survivor season, but fans will find it hard to forget the drama that he always carried with him.
Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8pm EST on CBS.
Source: Domenick Nati Show