Although they had not come to the last three “Surviving” Season 48 – and although none of them won the price of $ 1 million after the jury voted for Kyle Fraser in May – Eva Erickson and Joe Hunter passed away with the most memorable moment of the season and an admirable alliance.
Engaged to come to the end together from day 1, Erickson, 24 and Hunter, 45, had each other’s back all the time, even when they were not on the same tribe. Case in point: Day 11, when Erickson, CBS competition series’s first competitor with autism, during an immunity challenge, left her over -stimulated and overwhelmed.
Hunter, Crossing Tribe Lines, ran to comfort her and see her through, in turn and revealed to the rest of Castaways just how singular their band was revealed more about Erickson’s diagnosis than she originally released. Erickson then stood in front of her competitors and shared what she felt at that moment and what it was like working in the competition with autism. It was a viral moment of intense vulnerability that for the first time ever got tears from host Jeff Probst.
“Witnessing a young woman standing there, without her parents beside her, carried that weight on her own and did it with such courage – it was powerful in a way that went beyond the game,” Probst told Entertainment Weekly Back when the section was broadcast in March. “I can imagine that everyone who looks at this moment will experience their own version of what I felt. Something very deep and personal – a place where words come to short, but the feeling remains with you. This is one of the” surviving “moments I will never forget.”
Erickson and Hunter remember the moment as influencing, and were themselves moved by Probst’s response. When they spoke to Thewrap, they shared what day 11 changed their game and what their friendship looks like today. In addition, Erickson teased his excitement to see Hunter compete on the much -awaited “Survivor” season 50.
The feedback from the fan base, I am safe, has been so rewarding for you two. How has that experience been coming from this season?
Eva Erickson: Oh my gosh, I had no idea how big the fan base really was until it became part of it and made all these people reach out. And people who are not fans of “survivor”, also, who saw the clip, who saw what I went through, and reached out that they had autism, or their children, or that they recognize the signs that their children may have autism, and to be willing to have their child diagnosed because they saw me and realized it was nothing wrong. Only so many who want to share their stories because of how my story affected them, far too many to answer. But I read these, and it really affects me to understand that by just being who I am, I could influence so many people. So it’s really been a wild ride – very emotional when I got to share my story to the whole nation, surely,
When it comes to just being who you are, Joe, I think it also extends to you, just the opportunity for you to really lead with your heart. It speaks to your character and is not quite so many players go into “Survivor.” What was your thought process when you decided to lean in and really promote this connection?
Joe Hunter: The truth of 100% is, of course, that you have a plan that comes in as a “survivor” player on what to do. But when Eva talked to me and shared it, I want to be clear, it wasn’t at all – there was no game after that, and the professing after that was real. And why I became so emotional it was only another time in my life where a man was willing, with basically a new friend, a new person, to share something so vulnerable. I was so proud of her. I realized it, wow, I can’t believe she just told me it. I am so proud that this person has the strength to admit something that is super vulnerable. Most people do not do it in life at home, and because she would do it, my feeling was, I will go home right now before I betray this person. It wasn’t a game after that. It is not an act. In no time ever, no matter what, I will break this person’s trust that strengthens me. It was such a powerful, honest moment.
It was definitely a powerful moment for us at home. Since day 11 during the challenge, Jeff had an emotional reaction that we have never seen before while you two navigated Eva’s section. How was it for you two, to see this person you probably admired at a distance to really recognize you both and feel that connection on the beach?
And and: It really just showed how really emotionally that moment was. It was emotionally for everyone, not only Joe and I and what we experienced, but for all the people involved, because they saw this struggle, they saw me go through it, then they had to hear me talk about this. All this happens one in succession, and there was no time to rest and break and process what happened. So these feelings go very high, and I share my story that joins so many people, whether they have someone who has autism in their lives, or they only have someone they know who have their own fighters, and to see how I advocate to myself, how I am willing to be open to this, it really has only a lot of emotions for the game. He joined what Joe and I experienced there, because he is a father himself, and cares about the people in his life and wants someone to be there for them, as Joe was there for me. So it was really amazing to see it – that in addition to just being a player in this game, as if we are not just a farmer, we are also people. And even Jeff, who is like the best dog and runs the show, he even sees us as people as well and knows these feelings with us. And it is very rare to see him at that level and be one with us all. But it really gave this family feeling to what happened out there, which was really cool.
JH: At the end of the day you look at this person who has been so Bunnsolid, and if you look back on all seasons as a fan or even if you looked relaxed, he has experienced some things that are quite wild, and I have never experienced such a professional that is just so good at what he does on the go. And he is just, it’s not that he is calculated – he just knows, he lets you make the game, lets the game develop. But he is such a professional, and I have never seen him have extreme feelings, right? And what was so big is that he allowed us to experience it, and it actually helped me to recover quickly as well. It just happens so fast, and to see that he was also suffocated, which is now a family. It just made me feel that we are a real family out there. And he is so brilliant in what he does, so I just respect that he was also willing to let it happen, both with her and me, but also him. He didn’t just try to be stoic. I think it was so affecting. And I really think it was the piece that beat many people.
Now you are out in the real world. What does your relationship look like today?
JH: I mean, it is, if not the same, better, when it comes to being part of my family, and she is part of my family and will always be. And it is not just a catch of phrase, it is the truth, and it is because of a shared, very emotional band that two people experience in front of so many people.
Eva, looks ahead. Joe is cast in season 50. What was your reaction to that news and how excited are you to see how it all plays?
And and: So proud. I am so proud of him and Kyle and Kamilla (karthigesu). Just so excited that they all have to go out there again, and I cheer them all throughout the thing. I am so excited for him.
