“Survivor” has leaned into star power for its milestone 50th season, but not all of it is landing well.
The long-running reality series has brought in several high-profile names to mark its 26th anniversary, with Billie Eilish emerging as one of the most talked-about across recent episodes.
However, a new revelation from host Jeff Probst about how producers incorporated the Grammy-winning singer’s input into a major twist has left fans disappointed.
As 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 so far, and Probst’s comments about the major 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 opportunity 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 traditional one, allowing its holder to negate votes cast against them at Tribal Council.
The key difference is that if the player in possession of the idol is voted out without using it, the advantage doesn’t leave the game. Instead, it “boomerangs” back to the original finder.
Eilish is said to be a really huge fan of the show, even referencing it in her song “TV,” where she sings, “I put on ‘Survivor’ just to watch somebody 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 couple of ideas, and she decided which one she liked,” the veteran host explained. “She said, ‘I like the Boomerang.’ Then, we kind of wrote out the clue, and 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 another saying, “So she didn’t come up with ANY ideas for the show.”
‘Survivor 50’ Also Panned For Zac Brown Cameo
The boomerang idol is not the only element of “Survivor 50” that has drawn heavy criticism from fans.
In the fourth episode, Probst revealed during a challenge that the winning tribe would be rewarded with food and a private concert experience with country artist Zac Brown.
As 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 part of the reward.
However, some viewers felt the sequence took up too much time without adding meaningfully to the game.
On Reddit, one fan wrote, “Having him on for 30 minutes and [for him to] get more confessionals than most of the cast 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.
According to the U.S. Sun, production has already begun making late-stage edits to upcoming episodes, including segments involving MrBeast, in an effort to avoid further alienating the show’s core audience.
“Production has seen the backlash, and they stand by their decisions made to make this a superstar, supersized season,” the source said. “That being said, they don’t want to alienate the fanbase. They are hearing everyone out.”
“[They] did decide that they would cut down some of 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
In the midst of her controversial involvement in “Survivor 50,” The Blast reported how a man who was once arrested for stalking Eilish reportedly died after being struck by a train in New York.
The individual, identified as Prenell Rousseau, first came to public attention in 2020 after a series of incidents at the singer’s Los Angeles home. Over the course of two days, he appeared at the residence multiple times, exhibiting what court documents later described as “erratic behavior.”