CBS and the “Survivor” producers have released a lengthy statement promising changes to the game and production following contestant Dan Spilo’s Season 39 removal.
Among the changes will be a new in-game rule and better pre-production orientation, the parties said. Future “Survivor” seasons not already in the can (so, Season 41 and beyond), will also have “another on-site professional to provide a confidential means of reporting any concerns,” according to the statement, as well as “a third-party expert in the field to review, evolve or add to these new policies and procedures going forward.”
Below is the full statement by CBS and “Survivor” producers. The underlining emphasis is theirs, not TheWrap’s.
Season 39 of “Survivor” has been unprecedented for all of us, with important social issues and inappropriate individual behavior intersecting with game play in complex ways that we’ve never seen before. During the course of the production, we listened to the players intently, investigated responsibly and responded accordingly, including taking the unprecedented step of removing a player from the game.
At the same time, we are responsible for the final outcome of this season. We recognize there are things we could have done differently, and we are determined to do better going forward.
“Survivor” has a 20-year track record of a strong support system on locations and after production. It is also a show that continues to evolve, as we respond to what we learn from every new situation and every player. We will take the important lessons we learned from this season and adopt new protocols and procedures for future seasons, to ensure that the events that occurred this season are not repeated.
For Season 40, which has already filmed, the show added to its pre-production cast orientation specific guidelines regarding personal space, inappropriate behavior, and how to report these issues.
For Seasons 41 and beyond, the producers are reviewing all elements of the show to further support appropriate interaction, including how the players live during, as well as after they are eliminated from, the competition.
The show will also take additional steps to enhance procedures for training, reporting of issues and prohibited forms of game play. The new measures to further support a safe environment include but are not limited to the following:
The production will add another on-site professional to provide a confidential means of reporting any concerns, so that the production can address them promptly apart from the game. The full range of reporting processes will be communicated clearly to the players during pre-production orientation. The new executive will add to a support system that already makes mental health providers available to players on location and after they leave the island.
The show will enhance its pre-production orientation with new anti-harassment, unconscious bias and sensitivity training for cast, producers and production crew on location.
A new rule will be implemented stating unwelcome physical contact, sexual harassment and impermissible biases cannot be brought into the competition and will not be permitted as part of gameplay. This will be covered in the cast orientation for each season, along with clear instructions on how to report violations.
The show will also partner with a third-party expert in the field to review, evolve or add to these new policies and procedures going forward.
In addition, CBS Entertainment will develop appropriate enhanced policies and procedures equivalent to the new “Survivor” measures and adapt them for the network’s other reality programming going forward.
Spilo issued an apology earlier Tues.
“I am deeply sorry for how my actions affected Kellee [Kim] during the taping of this season of Survivor,” he wrote in a statement to People. “After apologizing at the tribal council when I first learned that Kellee still felt uncomfortable, I want to make sure I do so again, clearly and unambiguously.”
“I truly regret that anyone was made to feel uncomfortable by my behavior,” he continued. “In my life, I have always tried to treat others with decency, integrity and kindness. I can only hope that my actions in the future can help me to make amends and show me to be the kind of father, husband, colleague and friend that I always aim to be.”
Spilo, a talent manager, is the first “Survivor” contestant ever to be ejected from the show before being eliminated. A title card at the end of Wednesday’s “Survivor” episode read: “Dan was removed from the game after a report of another incident, which happened off-camera and did not involve a player.”
According to People, Spilo is accused of touching a female crew member’s leg, though he says that the contact was accidental in an attempt to gain balance as he boarded the boat. Following the incident, producers made the decision to eject him from the show.
The boat incident was not the first time Spilo had received complaints about his behavior, which included accusations of inappropriate touching from other contestants during this season. On day 22 of the competition, 14 days before he was ejected, he was given an official warning from the show to stop, according to EW.