It’s a Survivor first that will have fans reaching for the Kleenex.
Longtime host Jeff Probst broke down in tears amid an extremely emotional moment during the reality competition series’ March 26 episode, during which contestant Eva Erickson shared her autism diagnosis after overcoming difficulties in completing the Immunity Challenge.
“I’m ready to tell my story to everybody,” began Eva, who had only divulged her diagnosis to fellow player Joe Hunter at that point. “I have autism. I was diagnosed when I was very, very young. Doctors told my parents I would never live independently, that I would never hold a job, that at most I could marry someone else with autism.”
Noting how her parents “did not give up,” Eva explained, “They put me through so many different treatments to help me get all the support that I need, and I was able to then enter school and be mainstream. So, I’ve never viewed my autism as a roadblock to success.”
Eva went on to share that she was experiencing overstimulation during the challenge, but was “able to still finish” it and clinch the last Immunity Idol for her tribe. She also thanked Joe—who Jeff, in an unprecedented move, allowed to cross tribal lines to hug Eva after the challenge—for comforting her.
“Please, let’s take a step and understand that this is something I deal with,” Eva added, “and everyone who has autism should not be ashamed to ask for help and ashamed to receive it.”
For his part, Joe explained he saw Eva “in need,” so he came to her aid despite being on the opposing tribe. As he put it, “I would want someone to treat my daughter that way.”
Visibly moved by the contestants’ “powerful” friendship, Jeff praised Eva for playing Survivor “knowing something like this might happen, and then be brave enough to share your story” to other viewers with autism.
“I’m a parent,” he began, choking back tears, “and I do see it.”
Jeff—who coparents wife Lisa Ann Russell‘s kids Michael, 21,and Ava, 18, with her ex Mark-Paul Gosselaar and his wife Catriona McGinn—continued as he acknowledged his crying, “Wow, this has never happened.”
“I see it,” he told Eva, “and that’s why I love Survivor.”
He later explained why he got so emotional that day.
“Eva was visibly struggling, and in that moment, everything else fell away,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I knew that Joe was the one person she had confided in about her autism, and the challenge was already over—so there was no question of fairness. All that mattered was connection. Compassion. Letting her know she wasn’t alone.”
He continued, “And I know I speak for everyone when I say that words fall short when trying to describe what Joe did in that moment. You have to see it to understand it. Talk about instinct. It was one of the most intense and beautiful displays of saying ‘I got you’ that I have ever seen.”
Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS. And keep reading to meet the entire season 48 cast.
Stephanie Berger
Age: 38
Hometown: New York City, N.Y.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Tech product lead
Star Toomey
Age: 28
Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia
Current Residence: Augusta, Ga.
Occupation: Sales expert
Cedrek McFadden
Age: 46
Hometown: Colombia, S.C.
Current Residence: Greenville, S.C.
Occupation: Surgeon
Chrissy Sarnowsky
Age: 55
Hometown: Chicago
Current Residence: Chicago
Occupation: Fire lieutenant
Kevin Leung
Age: 34
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
Current Residence: Livermore, Calif.
Occupation: Finance manager
Mary Zheng
Age: 31
Hometown: Montgomery Village, Md.
Current Residence: Philadelphia
Occupation: Substance abuse counselor
Bianca Roses
Age: 33
Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
Current Residence: Arlington, Va.
Occupation: PR consultant
Kyle Fraser
Age: 31
Hometown: Roanoke, Va.
Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: Attorney
Thomas Krottinger
Age: 34
Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas
Current Residence: Los Angeles
Occupation: Music executive
Saiounia “Sai” Hughley
Age: 30
Hometown: Philadelphia
Current Residence: Simi Valley, Calif.
Occupation: Marketing professional
Shauhin Davari
Age: 38
Hometown: East Bay, Calif.
Current Residence: Costa Mesa, Calif.
Occupation: Debate professor
Joe Hunter
Age: 45
Hometown: Vacaville, Calif.
Current Residence: West Sacramento, Calif.
Occupation: Fire captain
David Kinne
Age: 39
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Current Residence: Buena Park, Calif.
Occupation: Stunt performer
Eva Erickson
Age: 24
Hometown: Eagan, Minn.
Current Residence: Providence, R.I.
Occupation: PhD candidate
Justin Pioppi
Age: 29
Hometown: Winthrop, Mass.
Current Residence: Winthrop, Mass.
Occupation: Pizzeria manager
Charity Nelms
Age: 34
Hometown: Monroe, Mich.
Current Residence: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Occupation: Flight attendant
Kamilla Karthigesu
Age: 31
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Current Residence: Foster City, Calif.
Occupation: Software engineer
Mitch Guerra
Age: 34
Hometown: Waco, Texas
Current Residence: Waco, Texas
Occupation: P.E. coach
