WokeBloke — 4 years ago(September 29, 2021 08:47 PM)

For over 20 years, Survivor host Jeff Probst welcomed participants to challenges with the signature phrase, “Come on in, guys.” But in the first episode of season 41 that premiered last week, he asked the cast if they were comfortable with the gendered slogan.
“I love saying it, it’s part of the show,” Probst said. “But I, too, want to be of the moment. So my question to you is, in the context of Survivor, is a word like ‘guys’ OK, or is it time to retire that word?”
Evvie Jagoda, who identified herself as part of the LGBTQ community, answered that she felt it was fine.
“I personally think ‘guys’ is OK,” she said. “It’s such a signature expression, and I, as a woman and as a queer woman, do not feel excluded by ‘guys.’”
Because no one else objected, Probst said to “mark it down as discussed and decided.”
But three days later, at a different challenge, another contestant said that after taking more time to think it through, he wasn’t on board with the word.
“I don’t think we should use the word 'guys,'” said Ricard Foye, who is also in the LGBTQ community. “I don’t really agree with it. The reality is that Survivor has changed over the past 21 years, and those changes have allowed all of us — all of these brown people, black people, Asian people, so many queer people — to be here simultaneously.”
Probst eagerly accepted his feedback.
“I love that you thought about it. I love that you had the courage within a million-dollar game to stand up. I’m with you. I want to change it. I’m glad that was the last time I will ever say it. I realize in this moment somebody right now is on social media saying ‘Aw, he caved,’ @jeffprobst on Twitter. I’ll probably never read it anyway. All right. I love that. We just made a change. From now on, it is: ‘Come on in.’”
Finally. I can finally watch Survivor now.