During a panel for the National Geographic Channel series The 2000s: A New Reality, guest Richard Hatch — the winner of 2000's smash-hit first season of the CBS reality series Survivor — alleged that the show's producers secretly gave food to several contestants.
"[Runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth] cheated in the first season," Hatch said in response to a question from an audience member.
"I caught her being fed. She was fed through the whole first season. She, and [Sue Hawk], by production. It's a tough thing for me. We got down to the end, and I refused to continue — stopped the show, and the whole bit — until those people were removed from the game... [Kelly] won five challenges in a row at the end, but only because she'd been fed... Not a thing that most people know. I'm interested in seeing how far she gets [in the upcoming series Survivor: Cambodia - Second Chance], and how it happens."
At that point — to the groans of the audience — the panel ended. But while Hatch didn't get to conclude his story, he did provide a more detailed version of his allegations in a Facebook post in May. Hatch wrote that his experience after Survivor "resulted in more than a decade of terrible, unjust suffering for my family and me," — likely a reference to his time spent in prison for tax evasion for failing to pay taxes on his winnings — but says he's still eager to see Kelly Wiglesworth on Survivor: Cambodia - Second Chance in September. "I believe I would like to see Kelly have a second chance to play a game I'm confident CBS and producers have since improved to prevent cheating," he wrote.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How will the new Repayment Assistance Plan for student loans work?the explainer The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing income-driven repayment plans
-
In the Spotlight Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been at odds with US forces
-
Music reviews: Ethel Cain, Amaarae, and The Black KeysFeature "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You," "Black Star," and "No Rain, No Flowers"
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposesspeed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
