CBS debuted the 42nd season of Survivor on Wednesday night, which ended with the surprise removal of contestant Jackson Fox.
The 48-year-old medical worker from Houston, Texas was evacuated from the show ahead of the first tribal council when he revealed he was trying to wean himself off the lithium drug before filming.
Fox was on the show only two days prior to his departure, although he called it “the best 48 hours I’ve ever had” despite his evacuation.
Deletions: CBS debuted the 42nd season of Survivor on Wednesday night, which ended with the surprise removal of contestant Jackson Fox.
Fox became part of the Taku Tribe at the premiere, where he revealed that he previously auditioned for the show as a woman before he turned into a man.
He also revealed to his teammates that his transition initially alienated him from his parents, but he became closer to them when he moved out after his mother became ill.
While his teammates were touched by his story, they also noticed that he was slightly dizzy on the island, which eventually led to a surprise visit from host Jeff Probst.
Visitation: While his teammates were touched by his story, they also noticed that he was slightly dizzy on the island, which eventually led to a surprise visit from host Jeff Probst.
Probst reported that just a day before filming began, Fox “revealed some new medical information”, although the producers agreed to let him start acting.
But within the first two days of the competition, it became clear that something was wrong, and Probst arrived on the island to speak with Fox in private.
Fox said he takes lithium to cope with the stress of caring for his mother, who fell ill in 2016, as well as anxiety and sleep.
Lithium: Fox said he takes lithium to help manage the stress of caring for his mother, who fell ill in 2016, as well as anxiety and sleep.
He revealed that he didn’t tell Probst right away because he was trying to get off drugs before filming began.
“I tried to quit it completely because I don’t need it anymore,” Fox told Probst, adding that he tried to “wean himself” from it with the help of his wife, a nurse.
“When I started taking care of my mom in 2016, stress kept me from sleeping. They’re like you have to start sleeping, so it was a way for me to take something that I could actually sleep with,” Fox said.
Trying to quit: “I tried to quit it completely because I don’t need it anymore,” Fox told Probst, adding that he tried to “wean himself” from it with the help of his wife, a nurse.
Probst noted that the drug has a “reaction” when a person does not eat or sleep, or when they have physically difficult problems that are part of Survivor.
“The cumulative effect of the show is potentially very bad for you, we don’t want that, your safety is paramount. We can’t do it, we can’t,” Probst told Fox.
Fox understood Probst’s situation and called his time on Survivor “the best 48 hours ever”, adding in a confession that his time on the series was “a gift”.
Can’t: “The cumulative effect of the show has the potential to affect you very badly, we don’t want that, your safety is paramount.” We can’t do it, we can’t,” Probst told Fox.
Gift: Fox understood Probst’s situation and called his time on Survivor “the best 48 hours”, adding in a confession that his time on the show was “a gift”.