3-time U.S. Olympian Elizabeth Beisel has released a statement after being at the center of a controversy on last night’s episode of the CBS reality television show Survivor.
The episode, which involved a “tribe merge” in the show’s format, is one that is usually a big episode for fans of the long-running show. Last night’s episode, however, has received extra attention after one contestant on the show, Dan Spilo, was accused of being too “handsy” with his fellow contestants, especially by Kellee Kim.
After initially saying that she didn’t feel uncomfortable with the behavior, Beisel later said that if she “can play up that card in whatever way possible, I’ll do it.”
“Honestly, I’ve felt safe this entire time and if I had felt uncomfortable I would have said, ‘Please stop,'” Beisel said.
Beisel and another contestant, Missy Byrd, both told Kim that they had similar experiences. Later, in the vote for which contestant would be eliminated, both Beisel and Byrde voted for Kim to be voted off the island instead of the accused Spilo.
Beisel Tweeted a statement on Thursday evening, and sent SwimSwam an extended statement as well. Beisel’s Statement:
To my family of Survivor viewers, past players, family and friends.
If you are reading this, I’m assuming you have watched the most recent episode of Survivor and are looking for answers. After watching the episode, my eyes were opened to a completely different truth, and I received an abundance of information that I was entirely unaware of while playing the game. I had no idea the severity of the situation. As a player, I am limited to my own experiences and knowing what I know now, my decisions would have been very different.
To Kellee. I was sick to my stomach watching the episode and seeing how much pain you were in. I wholeheartedly apologize to you for using your accusations against Dan for gameplay. In no world is that acceptable, and I take full responsibility for my actions, and lack thereof.
To Janet. I deeply regret ever taking advantage of you in the game this way. Watching the episode, it was clear your sole intention was to protect us women, and I am distraught by the way I handled this situation. I am extremely sorry.
To women everywhere. Sexual harassment and sexual assault are extremely serious, life altering topics that I do not take lightly. They have no business being used as tactics to further one’s own agenda, whether it be in real life or in the game of Survivor. I am beyond disappointed with my behavior and will use this as a life changing, teaching moment. I apologize to any woman who felt triggered and disrespected by my actions. I regret the way I acted, and I am so incredibly sorry.
To Dan and men everywhere. Your reputation is never meant to be someone else’s stepping stone. It is not a topic to joke about or to be used as a tactical ploy, and for that, I apologize.
After watching the episode, I am deeply ashamed with my actions and I apologize – they do not reflect my character and who I am in my day to day life. My heart goes out to all involved. Survivor has been a life changing experience and I have learned so much. I hope this moment does not define me, but instead will help inform who I am as a person going forward.
— Elizabeth Beisel (@ebeisel34) November 15, 2019
Kim was eliminated, while Spilo was given the opportunity to apologize during the Tribal Council. In Survivor, contestants complete challenges for immunity and rewards, and at the end of each episode (usually), contestants vote one of their fellow contestants off the show. The Tribal Council is the name of the scene where that vote happens.
“I work in an industry in which the #MeToo movement was formed and allowed — thank God — to blossom and become powerful and strong,” Spilo said. He is a Hollywood talent agent. “My personal feeling is if anyone ever felt for a second uncomfortable about anything I’ve ever done, I’m horrified about that and I’m terribly sorry.
“If that person was Kellee — if Kellee ever felt that in the freezing cold rain, or in tight shelters… or in all the ways we have to crawl around and through each other in this game — if I ever did anything that ever even remotely made her feel uncomfortable, it horrifies me, and I am terribly sorry.”
Beisel and others from the show have come under criticism on social media over her comments which seemed to be taking advantage of the situation for personal gain. Several people Tweeted that they were no longer fans of Beisel, who for most of her career has been among the favorites with American swimming fans.
I am absolutely disgusted by the actions of Missy Byrd and Elizabeth Beisel on #Survivor. For them to concoct a plan to fabricate a story based on Kellee's legitimate allegations of Dan purely to sway votes their way at tribal council is downright vile. Shameful. Inexcusable.
— Natalia Buia (@itsbooyeah) November 14, 2019
And as someone who grew up in the same sport watching and idolizing THE Elizabeth Beisel, it’s like a gut punch watching your childhood Idol invalidate a fellow women’s experience and lie about such a serious issue. So in conslusion: #StanJanet #Survivor https://t.co/Fyfs8q2kmK
— 𝕝𝕚𝕝𝕪 (@mslilmmcc) November 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/actuallyerin/status/1194820979773624320
Update:
Another contestant on the show, Aaron Meredith, posted an apology video for his role in the episode, which included him defending Beisel and Byrd and defended their actions as “Gameplay.” He also discredited the accusations, saying that if something were going on, he and the other men would know about it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B42uNMQAET0/
In the world we live in where a man is guilty until proven innocent when it comes to accusations like this, this is absolutely nothing short of sickening. A “sorry I shouldn’t have done that” should not be adequate. Whether we realize it or not that man will live with that for the rest of his life and be looked down on. There 10,000% needs to be criminal charges for things like this. Not a oh I’m sorry, and everyone forgets about it. This is an absolute disgrace for USA swimming and should be for our entire country. Yes there are VALID complaints and I would never in a billion years condone assault of any kind. But this is wrong.… Read more »
And uhhhh who really cares?????
2017: “Believe all women.”
2019: “Especially when you can use it to eliminate someone you don’t like.”
FYI their initial comments on the inappropriate touching were true. The guy did touch both Elizabeth and Missy. They had conversations about it before the whole mess started with them using it as strategy
Thanks Elizabeth for speaking up and apologizing. That takes integrity.
We love you Elizabeth. We know what’s in your heart.
If we were all judged on our worst moments in life….no one comes out clean. Its important to listen with an open mind when it comes to these sensitive topics, learn from others mistakes, and try to make the better choice if given the opportunity. We cant change the past, but we can be better tmrw. My heart aches for everyone involved.
As a longtime fan of Beisel’s, I find this pretty darn distressing. I second Ol’ Longhorn’s suggestion that, if she’s truly as sickened by her behavior as she says, donating her Survivor profits to RAINN would be a great way to demonstrate it.
It’s not your place to decide what actions and/or monetary decisions qualify as an act of penance. As is true for all of us, we should focus on our own shortcomings before casting stones at others.
This is the dark side of reality TV. The contestants are living in an isolated place under strange circumstances. So Elizabeth got caught up in the machinations of the alliances in trying to stay in the game.
Put people in strange circumstances and you can’t predict what will happen. Some famous experiments in psychology have proven this.