Jeff Probst talks about ‘Survivor’ popularity at 2025 Emmy Awards
Jeff Probst introduces his current favorite ‘Survivor’ contestants and looks back on his 25 years hosting the 2025 Emmy Awards.
‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst is addressing controversial comments about former contestant Parvati Sharrow.
The Emmy-winning reality host recently got a little tough on Season 31 winner Jeremy Collins on the Oct. 22 episode of her podcast, On Fire, after he asked her if Sharrow should be considered a two-time winner of the reality competition. Collins replied, “No.” That’s because Sharrow’s second win came with the Australian version of the franchise, not the original U.S. series.
Instead, he infamously said she had “1.5 wins.”
Probst now denies Collins’ claims that he asked the question with the intention of getting a specific answer, adding that he doesn’t really have an opinion on the debate. “For some reason, Jeremy’s answer, his own opinion as a player, was attributed to me,” Probst said on the Wednesday, Nov. 19 podcast episode.
“And now I am the one who said that Parvati’s victory is not important,” he added. “I didn’t say that. I don’t even have an opinion.”
“If you think that’s a leading question, and I expected Jeremy to answer like that, you don’t know me,” the “Survivor” host said. “I have an opinion. I always say it. I often regret it later, but I don’t have an opinion on this. I’ve never played.”
‘Survivor’ contestant Parvati Sharrow addresses Jeremy Collins’ comments
Sharrow, who won Season 16 of the US series in 2008 and recently won the latest season of Australian Survivor titled “Australia vs. the World,” criticized the contestants’ comments in the comments section of an Instagram post.
“A few straight men are trying to discredit women,” she wrote. “New moves, boys.”
The reality TV star recently spoke on the Drop Your Buffs podcast about why she felt she needed to address the controversy surrounding her second win.
“I hear there’s a lot going on in the Survivor world, and there’s been some opinions floating around about my two wins,” Sharrow said. “Survivor is one of those things that is woven into the fabric of my destiny in this life, so I feel like I had to say something.”
She continued, “People who go out and play ‘Survivor’ are so brave because we are taking control of our story out of our hands and into the hands of others. So I just hope that the person who takes on our story is someone who respects all people and all walks of life and can tell our story with integrity and honor.”
Jeff Probst addresses criticism from Bowen Yan and Matt Rogers
Following Collins’ comments, the longtime Survivor producer faced intense online backlash from Wicked: For Good actor Bowen Yang and comedian Matt Rogers, among others.
“Jeff Probst, you’re not going to get away with calling Parvati Shallow the winner of Survivor for a year and a half…I don’t think so, honey,” Rodgers said on the Nov. 12 episode of the “Las Culturistas” podcast. “Please don’t fool around with Parv.”
Rodgers went on to criticize Probst, calling Australian Survivor a harder and better produced show.
Probst acknowledged his “Las Culturistas” co-host’s comments, saying, “Matt, I hear you. That was funny. You got the wrong guy. Re-record it with Jeremy and Jeremy and we’ll take all the sadness.”
“I have nothing to do with Survivor Australia. It’s a unique show made in another country by other producers. I’ve only heard good things. I know people are really enjoying it,” he added.
Jeremy Collins doubles down on comments about Parvati
Despite significant disapproval, Collins stands firm on his position. “I count that win as a half win because the match is different. I don’t want to take anything away from Parv. I think Parv is great. I think she had a great match, but the match is different… That’s all I’m saying,” Collins said.
Probst went on to praise Shallow as a player, adding that he considers Sharrow one of his “Survivor” Mount Rushmore winners, along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Tony Vlakos and “Boston” Rob Mariano.
“These are the only four people on my Mount Rushmore. That’s right, Parvati,” Probst said. “One of the most dominant characters I’ve ever played, incredibly charming, mischievous, evil and duplicitous.”
