Just when I thought Survivor couldn't get any more messed up after Season 39, a bombshell was dropped by Richard Hatch! He went public with the revelation that both he and Tina Wesson HAD, in fact, been originally selected for Survivor 40: Winners At War, but were dumped two days before filming with a shady phone call. I know I've posted thoughts about Season 39 before, but I have the feeling that nobody will ever get the true story on Season 39. It's been buried too deeply in the sand.
I'm sorry, Jeff and CBS, but you did Richard and Tina a disservice by axing them from the Season 40 cast two days before filming. Tina didn't even do anything to deserve being axed and she would have been iconic addition as the first female winner of Survivor. You already behaved in a shady manner when handling the Dan Spilo situation and this revelation from Richard is just heartbreaking. I don't know what all went down in All-Stars and what conversations were had during and after the incident, but it's very clear that Richard has learned from it and has moved on. He's not the same arrogant person he was all those years ago; people do grow and evolve as the result of negative experiences. I don't think it's fair to hold negative behaviors over people's heads forever, as people change and grow over the years and constantly reminding people of their pasts only discourages them from building a better future.
Why not give Richard a chance to prove that he is a different person instead of automatically assuming he's not capable of change and forever implanting him in Survivor purgatory? People can change and Richard should be given the chance to show that he can be less problematic than he used to be with certain behaviors. I fear that by avoiding conversation, you are telling people that they can't evolve from their past selves and shouldn't even try. Every single person has actions in their past that they are probably ashamed of, but a lot of people have moved beyond their past. How is it fair for people to have their past held over them when they are doing all they can to move on from it? I don't believe people should have their past held over their heads for the rest of their lives if they have learned from it!
Anyway, rant over. I will just say that I know how he feels, as nasty gossip and unfair judgments about my past have been used against me to damage or disqualify me from love, housing, or other meaningful opportunities. I know a bit of how Richard feels and I empathize.
I'll share Richard's video and let people develop their own opinions:
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Comments
@Chamleon77 To add on.. there is tea that Rob and Amber originally declined.. and then at the last minute decided to accept it.. which led to richard and tina being cut off last minute without it being planned or in a professional manner.
