- - Jeff Probst defends MrBeast, Jimmy Fallon's involvement on 'Survivor 50'

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY January 7, 2026 at 3:12 AM

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Jeff Probst is assuring fans that "Survivor 50" will still focus on its players and gameplay, after its first trailer, which teased some celebrity involvement, led some to think otherwise.

The reality competition series aired a teaser for its milestone 50th season on Dec. 19, featuring twists relating to celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Billie Eilish. While fans were thrilled to see returning players like Ciree Fields and Colby Donaldson, many were thrown off by appearances of YouTube star Mr. Beast and country singer Zac Brown.

In a Variety interview published Jan. 6, Probst said producers aimed to include celebrities who are actually fans of the show by "sprinkling a few of them in with their own unique twists."

"I think it's a legitimate concern when you start adding layers like celebrities, that they can overshadow the game and take it off course. Our job was to make sure that we stayed true to what we're doing on 'Survivor,' which is exploring this continuous social experiment. And now we’re adding another layer," Probst said.

Jeff Probst accepts an award onstage during the 28th Family Film and TV Awards in Burbank, California, on Dec. 20, 2025

The longtime host and producer said the idea is meant to add unique perceptions and reputations of stars to enhance the game.

"Suddenly, people can get off track a little bit, or they lean in, and they want something to do with Jimmy Fallon," he said. "A lot of the players said, 'I've always dreamed of being in a MrBeast video.' So the twist is designed to see if you can stay on course with the thought process you should — or how is it going to shift your thought process, and will it do you in?"

Jeff says celebs asked him to be involved in 'Survivor 50'

Probst clarified that producers did not go out of their way to solidify these celebrity involvements. He said the stars sought to be a part of the show themselves.

"With Jimmy Fallon, it was on his show. Jimmy texts me ideas all the time about 'Survivor,' and we put some of them in the show, and we’ve always talked about this idea,' he added. "I think people will see, when they see these play out, I think they'll understand these are legit 'Survivor' fans who wanted to be a part of 50."

Not only did Mr Beast, whose real name is James Donaldson, appear on "Survivor," but Probst appeared in Season 2 of Donaldson's reality competition series "Beast Games."

"They have a chaotic approach. They have cameras everywhere; they break the fourth wall all the time. They talk to players whenever they want. It’s a completely different form of storytelling, and it works," Probst said. "On 'Survivor,' we're looking at the long game. We want to introduce you to somebody, let you know who they are, where they’re from, what their vulnerabilities are, and then we add things to the game to exacerbate that uncertainty and force adaptability."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeff Probst defends MrBeast, Billie Eilish's involvement on 'Survivor'

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