Survivor is a game about surviving. And that means doing what it takes. Everyone knows that there aren’t a lot of rules. Contestants have been known to negotiate, cheat, and lie during the competition. However, Jeff Probst did reveal that there is one place where players are forced to tell the truth.
The erstwhile Survivor host said he had no problem with players lying to him as they navigated the games and governed themselves in their camps. But he did share that there is one place where players must always be truthful and that this rule is absolute.
Jeff Probst reveals the special spot
During his On Fire podcast, Jeff revealed more Survivor tea! He had previously talked about how he’d do anything, even risk parasites, for the game. Now he discussed where you can hear the players spilling the truth.
“Here’s how it works,” he said. “During your private interviews with the producer, you have to answer the questions because that’s how we tell the story. And you have to tell the producer the truth,” Jeff adds. “That’s the only person you have to tell the truth to.”
Jeff added that these interviews happen away from the camp and far out of earshot of other contestants. So players don’t have to worry about others hearing their thoughts and strategies shared. Producers need to know what the players think as the game continues to help frame the story.
And that’s the only place where 100% truth is required. Otherwise, players can handle answering questions as they see fit. Jeff added that he doesn’t even have a problem with players blatantly lying to him during Tribal Council. In that instance, they can answer with the truth or a lie as long as they answer.
“When you talking to me at challenges or tribal, you can lie all you want,” Jeff laughed. “You can lie directly to me. I may not even know you’re lying. And I don’t even care. I just want any story to track. True or false it’s your call.”
It’s interesting to note that lying or even telling the truth might be an integral part of a team or player’s strategy when playing the Survivor game. After all, information is power, and how much you share or withhold can make all the difference.
Survivor airs Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
TELL US – DID YOU KNOW THIS FUN FACT ABOUT SURVIVOR? WILL YOU NOW BE A BIT MORE MISTRUSTING DURING TRIBAL COUNCIL?
