The upcoming season ofSurvivorwill conclude a little differently than previous finales of the long-running competition series.
While the finale of series traditionally includes a live reunion show, the final episode ofSurvivor: Island of the Idolswill be pre-taped,Entertainment Weeklyreportedon Wednesday. The news of the change comes the same day it was announced that contestant Dan Spilo wasremoved from the game, a franchise first.
A source told the outlet the decision to pre-tape the finale was made in order to help the players “feel as comfortable and safe as possible while discussing what happened out on the island,” in addition to concerns about security and thesensitive materialcovered on the show this season.
EWreported that the season finale will still be taped in front of a live studio audience and is expected to air “in its entirety without any edits.”
“As in past seasons, the show will take place in front of an audience and still plans to start with a ‘live’ introduction, have periodic look-ins during the finale, and then a reunion/cast discussion after a winner is crowned,” according toEW.
Dan Spilo.Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment
Spilo was removed from the game following an undisclosed “incident,” hostJeff Probstannounced to the remaining players during Wednesday’s episode. As the screen faded to black at the end of the episode, the following message appeared: “Dan was removed from the game after a report of another incident, which happened off-camera and did not involve a player.”
While details about the mysterious “incident” were not given, multiple people involved with the show’s productionconfirmed to PEOPLEthat the incident happened after an immunity challenge as Spilo and other contestants were getting into a boat to transport them back to the camp.
While getting into the boat, Spilo allegedly touched a female crew member on the leg. He insisted that the contact was accidental, according to multiple sources, but the show’s production team wasn’t convinced of that and after consulting with the show’s legal team, producers decided to remove him from the show.
At least one of the remaining contestants witnessed the incident. Sources close to Spilo say that he vehemently disagreed with the decision to remove him from the game.
Neither CBS nor Spilo are providing additional comment at this time.
Spilo was accused earlier in the season ofinappropriate touching, when contestant Kellee Kim expressed concern that the Hollywood agent had violated her personal space, even after she repeatedly asked him to stop.
Kellee Kim and Dan Spilo.Robert Voets/CBS (2)
Kim was ultimately voted off of the show after vocalizing her concerns about Spilo.
Since Spilo’s removal from the show, Kim released a statement on Twitter, writing, “Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. While Dan’s dismissal has validated the concerns that I raised from the beginning of this season, I wish that no one else had to be subjected to this type of behavior.”
“While I wish many things had gone differently, I’m glad that my decision to speak up made a difference,” Kim added. “What is most important to me now is how all of us — CBS,Survivor, other organizations, and all of us as individuals — decide to learn from this story and commit to take action.”
Probst declined to give further information on the “incident” that caused Spilo’s removal in an interview withEntertainment Weeklypublished after Wednesday’s episode aired.
“The question is a fair and reasonable one,” Probst told the outlet when asked what happened. “I’ve endeavored to be as forthcoming as possible with you regarding everything that has happened this season. In this situation, out of respect for privacy and confidentiality, I can’t say anymore.”
The season finale ofSurvivor: Island of the Idolsairs December 18 on CBS.
source: people.com
