As Survivor continues through its 48th season, it seems impossible that any “firsts” are left for the long-running reality TV show. Survivor has been around for 25 years and has introduced audiences to an array of unforgettable players who carry out ingenious gameplay and undertake grueling physical challenges, all in the name of taking home the cash prize.
There have been numerous changes over the years, but Survivor host Jeff Probst has been a staple of the show. Never one to resist the urge to make a flippant comment or ask a difficult question, Probst rarely reveals any vulnerability or emotion of his own. In Season 48, however, that changed, and the result was another Survivor “first.”
When one of the contestants opened up about their personal journey in life and on Survivor, Probst cried for the first time in the history of the show. The contestant’s words evoked emotional reactions from her castmates as well, a testament to the heartfelt scene. Here’s what happened.
Survivor Contestant Eva Erickson Was Hesitant To Talk About Her Autism With Her Castmates But Had A Special Bond With Joe Hunter
When Eva Erickson arrived on Survivor, she kept her autism diagnosis private. She only told one of her castmates about it for fear of revealing her vulnerability to the group. When Eva talked to Joe Hunter about her diagnosis, it was emotional for both of them and the audience. Joe, a father figure of sorts to Eva, told her he would keep her secret and essentially protect her as the game continued.
Joe and Eva were separated when the Survivor tribes were realigned but, as Episode 5 of Season 48 unfolded, Eva was visibly struggling to complete the immunity challenge. Tasked with maneuvering balls through a table maze and to specific holes, Eva kept trying, determined not to let down her Lagi tribe. She just kept asking herself “Why can’t I do this?” as the stress of the situation increased. In the end, she accomplished the feat and earned her tribe’s immunity, but was so upset by the end, Joe had to intervene to calm her down.
Joe, as a member of the Vula tribe, was giving away his connection to Eva in doing so. It was Survivor Jeff Probst who encouraged Joe to comfort Eva after he saw Joe’s obvious desire to do so. Joe, for his part, had been on the sidelines mouthing the words “C’mon… Breathe, sis.”
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Jeff Probst and the rest of the Survivor contestants watched as Joe hugged Eva and helped her calm down after the immunity challenge. He told Eva she was safe, exactly what she needed to hear. Once the intensity of the situation had resolved a bit, Jeff asked Joe,
“Why was it important for you, Joe, to reveal part of your game and go give comfort to somebody who is on the other tribe?”
Joe replied,
“If it exposes, it exposes, but she was in need and I would want someone to treat my daughter that way if they were playing this game.”
Joe did not reveal Eva’s autism when he addressed Jeff and the group on Survivor, but Eva chose that moment to tell everyone about her diagnosis.
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When Eva Erickson Revealed Her Autism And Why She Was On Survivor, Everyone Was In Tears
Eva Erickson explained to everyone why she reacted to the immunity challenge like she did, ultimately revealing her autism. Eva told them that she was diagnosed when she was very young and doctors indicated she would never thrive with her condition. She acknowledged the love and support of her parents for helping her live with autism but also said,
“Please let’s take a step away from the game and understand that this is what I deal with with my autism, and everyone who has autism should not be ashamed to ask for help and ashamed to receive it.”
When Jeff tried to assess the moment verbally, he got choked up:
“There is a young girl or boy just like you watching right now going, ‘Hey, mom, hey, dad,‘ … Now you got me. I’m a parent too, and I do see it. Wow, this [crying] has never happened. But I see it too, and that’s why I love Survivor. I really do.”
This was the first time in Survivor history that Jeff had ever cried during an episode. Jeff later explained to Entertainment Weekly,
“I saw the same thing everyone else saw — Joe and Eva experiencing an incredibly powerful moment of true grace and tenderness and humanity. So I was already very emotional. I was working so hard to stay focused on the story so I could do my job as host while trying to hold back my tears.”
“As Eva was telling her story, I was so proud of her that my emotions started to even out and I actually thought I had a handle on things. But when I said the words “mom and dad,” it triggered the parent in me and something cracked open. It wasn’t just about Eva anymore — it was about every young person searching for the words to express who they are, and every parent trying to understand, support, and protect their child through it. My tears came from that overwhelming mix of emotions every parent knows — fear, joy, worry, hope — all tangled up at once.”
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Eva Erickson Was As Surprised As Everyone Else About Jeff Probst’s Reaction
In an interview with People, Eva Erickson talked about seeing Jeff Probst get emotional about her story:
“It was crazy seeing Jeff cry — I’d never seen that. Seeing Jeff get so emotional about the situation and thinking about his own family and his kids, that was the moment when it hit me, that this is a moment that is going to be remembered…”
“He’s seen so many people and been through so much through all of years of Survivor, and now seeing that this moment broke him, I was like, okay, this is bigger than I can imagine. It was a big thing for me, realizing, wow, I am actually representing so many people here, and seeing that reflected in how Jeff reacted to this, I was like, this is going to mean so much to so many.”
Eva also talked about how much Joe Hunter means to her and how “thankful” she is that she got to meet him on Survivor. Joe provided her with everything she needed when she was overstimulated and helped get out of what she calls the “loop.”
It wasn’t just a one-time shedding of tears, either. While Jeff’s crying on Survivor was unprecedented, the scene still makes him cry “every single time I watch it.”
Survivor
- Release Date
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May 31, 2000
- Network
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CBS
- Showrunner
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Jeff Probst
- Directors
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Jeff Probst
- Writers
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Jeff Probst
