For the primary time in 48 seasons, Survivor host and showrunner Jeff Probst broke down in tears on Wednesday’s (March 26) episode after a particular second between two contestants.
The second occurred following a tense immunity problem, which noticed 24-year-old Eva Erickson, who has autism, struggling within the maze puzzle portion of the problem. Erickson ultimately accomplished the problem, successful immunity for her tribe, however the overstimulation led to what she known as an “autism episode.”
As an emotionally distraught Erickson struggled to compose herself, Probst signalled for fellow contestant Joe Hunter to go over and luxury her. Hunter, a 45-year-old hearth captain, was the one castaway Erickson had advised about her autism, and so he knew the strategies to assist calm her down, together with hugging her tightly and holding her arms.
As soon as calmed down, Erickson opened up about her autism to your entire forged, which led to Probst breaking into tears as he mentioned the highly effective second and the way it may assist younger folks watching at dwelling who could be going via one thing comparable.
“There’s a younger lady or boy identical to you watching proper now going, ‘Hey, mother, hey, dad,” Probst mentioned earlier than choking up. “Now you bought me. I’m a mother or father too, and I do see it. Wow, this [crying] has by no means occurred. However I see it too, and that’s why I really like Survivor. I actually do.”
Probst is married to Lisa Ann Russell and a stepfather to Russell’s two kids, son Michael (born 2004) and daughter Ava (born 2006), from her former marriage to actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
Chatting with Individuals after the episode, Erickson mirrored on the emotional second, explaining, “The second that I completed [the challenge], all of this stress and strain that was overstimulating me simply took maintain of me, and I grew to become ungrounded, and everyone round me didn’t know what was taking place.”
“Externally, it simply seems like I’m screaming a bunch,” she continued. “However they don’t know what’s occurring inside my mind, they don’t know that I bodily can not management myself, I don’t have the aptitude to settle down right here as a result of I’m so overstimulated.”
The collegiate hockey participant referred to Joe as her “superhero,” saying his embrace helped calm her down and get her grounded. “And I used to be capable of get my head out of that loop,” she mentioned, “like this loop that’s been spinning and spinning, now I’m capable of break that and really re-center myself and reset and rejoin the sport.”
As for Probst’s teary-eyed second, Erickson shared, “It was loopy seeing Jeff cry — I’d by no means seen that. Seeing Jeff get so emotional concerning the state of affairs and excited about his circle of relatives and his youngsters, that was the second when it hit me, that it is a second that’s going to be remembered.
She added, “He’s seen so many individuals and been via a lot via all of years of Survivor, and now seeing that this second broke him, I used to be like, okay, that is larger than I can think about. It was a giant factor for me, realizing, wow, I’m truly representing so many individuals right here, and seeing that mirrored in how Jeff reacted to this, I used to be like, that is going to imply a lot to so many.”
Probst additionally opened up concerning the episode in a private essay he wrote for Selection. Describing the second Hunter and Erickson embraced, the Emmy-winning host wrote, “It didn’t matter that not one of the different gamers knew Eva had autism. Most of our crew didn’t both. They didn’t must. As a result of in that second, it wasn’t concerning the particulars. It was about one thing rather more common: vulnerability. Pure and unshielded.”
“Eva stood in that gentle. In the course of the storm. And her braveness was met not with discomfort or distance—however with care. Her reality was seen. Her battle was honored,” he continued. And it touched one thing in all of us—not as a result of it modified who we’re, however as a result of it reminded us of what’s already there.”
“That sort of human connection—it’s not simply an thought. It’s actual. And when it occurs, it stays with you. It was an honor to witness. I’ll carry it with me eternally,” he concluded.
Survivor, Wednesdays, 8 pm et, CBS