“Survivor” has leaned into star power for its milestone fiftieth season, but not all of it’s landing well.
The long-running reality series has brought in several high-profile names to mark its twenty sixth anniversary, with Billie Eilish emerging as one of the talked-about across recent episodes.
Nevertheless, a brand new revelation from host Jeff Probst about how producers incorporated the Grammy-winning singer’s input into a significant twist has left fans disenchanted.
As a part of “Survivor’s” 25th anniversary celebrations, CBS brought in figures like Eilish, Zac Brown, and MrBeast for Season 50.
The move has not gone down well with viewers thus far, and Probst’s comments about the foremost Eilish-linked “boomerang” twist appear to have been the tipping point.
How Billie Eilish Is At The Center Of ‘Survivor 50’
Contestants in Season 50 of “Survivor” have the chance to secure immunity from elimination through a twist involving the so-called “Billie Eilish boomerang idol,” which is found and shared across tribes.
The special immunity idol functions similarly to a conventional one, allowing its holder to negate votes solid against them at Tribal Council.
The important thing difference is that if the player in possession of the idol is voted out without using it, the advantage doesn’t leave the sport. As a substitute, it “boomerangs” back to the unique finder.
Eilish is alleged to be a very huge fan of the show, even referencing it in her song “TV,” where she sings, “I placed on ‘Survivor’ just to observe any individual suffer.”
Fans Label The Billie Eilish Twist The ‘Worst Ever’
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Probst revealed how the production team landed on the controversial twist by running multiple ideas past Eilish herself.
“We sent her a few ideas, and he or she decided which one she liked,” the veteran host explained. “She said, ‘I just like the Boomerang.’ Then, we form of wrote out the clue, and he or she approved that as well.”
The revelation has not gone down well with viewers, with some accusing the show of prioritizing celebrity input over its core audience.
“Pandering to a popstar who doesn’t gaf about you while neglecting the fans. SMH,” one user wrote on X, with one other saying, “So she didn’t give you ANY ideas for the show.”
‘Survivor 50’ Also Panned For Zac Brown Cameo
The boomerang idol shouldn’t be the one element of “Survivor 50” that has drawn heavy criticism from fans.
Within the fourth episode, Probst revealed during a challenge that the winning tribe can be rewarded with food and a personal concert experience with country artist Zac Brown.
As a part of the segment, the singer was shown in a deep-sea expedition, catching fish that he also prepared for the winners. He then performed two of his songs for the group as a part of the reward.
Nevertheless, some viewers felt the sequence took up an excessive amount of time without adding meaningfully to the sport.
On Reddit, one fan wrote, “Having him on for half-hour and [for him to] get more confessionals than many of the solid this episode was pathetic.”
After Brown And Eilish, ‘Survivor’ Reportedly Edits MrBeast Episode
Backlash over the Brown and Eilish features on “Survivor 50” has reportedly prompted producers to rethink how heavily the season will lean on celebrity cameos.
In response to the U.S. Sun, production has already begun making late-stage edits to approaching episodes, including segments involving MrBeast, in an effort to avoid further alienating the show’s core audience.
“Production has seen the backlash, and so they stand by their decisions made to make this a superstar, supersized season,” the source said. “That being said, they don’t need to alienate the fanbase. They’re hearing everyone out.”
“[They] did resolve that they might cut down among the future cameo edits, mostly MrBeast,” the insider added. “It’s pretty last-minute to make cuts, but not too late.”
Billie Eilish Stalker Reportedly Dead
Within the midst of her controversial involvement in “Survivor 50,” The Blast reported how a person who was once arrested for stalking Eilish reportedly died after being struck by a train in Latest York.
The person, identified as Prenell Rousseau, first got here to public attention in 2020 after a series of incidents on the singer’s Los Angeles home. Over the course of two days, he appeared on the residence multiple times, exhibiting what court documents later described as “erratic behavior.”