In an April 6 interview with “Survivor” alum Rob Cesternino, YouTube superstar MrBeast – also known as Jimmy Donaldson – asked fans to keep an “open mind” about his upcoming cameo on the show’s milestone 50th season.
MrBeast – the most subscribed creator in YouTube history and the creator/host of Amazon Prime’s “Beast Games” – is one of four celebrities playing a role on the groundbreaking installment.
His as-yet unaired segment follows the introduction of Oscar winner Billie Eilish’s “Boomerang Idols” in the premiere episode, and country music star Zac Brown’s controversial spear-fishing reward on Episode 4. Late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon is also set to play a role at some point before the season’s May 20 finale, though the nature of his involvement remains a mystery.
Opening up about his forthcoming appearance on Cesternino’s “Rob Has a Podcast,” MrBeast attempted to reassure fans that it won’t be a repeat of Brown’s poorly-received cameo.
MrBeast Promises His ‘Survivor 50’ Appearance is No ‘Silly Little Cameo’
From the moment CBS announced that celebrity cameos would be a large part of “Survivor 50,” fans have pushed back, arguing that the stars’ appearances will take away from the show’s raw nature.
Their grievances have compounded throughout the season, with fans noting Billie Eilish’s silence regarding her involvement and calling Zac Brown’s lengthy cameo “staged” and “self-aggrandizing.”
GettyBrown’s episode currently stands as the single lowest-rated episode in “Survivor” history, according to iMDB.
There were even rumors that MrBeast’s cameo would be cut down or re-edited following outcry from fans, though longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst has since dismissed these claims as false.
While Donaldson told Cesternino that he “can’t say anything” about his upcoming appearance on the milestone season due to being “under a lot of NDAs,” he asked fans to “come into it with an open mind” and “give it an honest try.”
“I know – you’re not a fan of us cameos. You don’t like us,” he added, referring to the fandom-wide backlash following Brown’s appearance. “But trust me, ours isn’t just some silly little cameo. You’ll like it.”
MrBeast Opens Up About the Lessons He Learned From Jeff Probst on Set
GettyMrBeast’s “Survivor 50” cameo follows after Jeff Probst appeared on the second season of “Beast Games” earlier this year, helping Donaldson host a competition to a $1.8 million private island.
While talking with Cesternino, the YouTuber revealed that he learned a lot about reality TV hosting from Probst during their time together on the show.
“There were sometimes when contestants would be bickering, and there would be – I don’t know – almost silence. Or they’re just looking at each other,” he explained. “And I didn’t notice it, but sometimes [Jeff] won’t even say anything. He’ll just look at them. And I was like, ‘Oh.’ Because when I was watching him host, I would be like, ‘What would I do in this instance?’ And I would – in my head I’m like, ‘Oh, I definitely would’ve stepped in.’ But in this instance, he’s just letting them play out. Even though it’s, like, very tense and very, like, borderline awkward.”
“So I was just taking a bunch of notes down watching him,” Donaldson added.
Be sure to catch an all-new episode of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” – featuring the “biggest twist” in franchise history – on CBS this Wednesday, April 15 at 8:00pm ET.
