Worlds Apart: Cast Diversity Challenges Before COVID Unveiled

“Survivor 30,” known as “Worlds Apart,” showcased an engaging theme of White Collar vs. Blue Collar vs. No Collar. The season explored differences in work ethic and lifestyle and how these factors might influence gameplay on Survivor.

Throughout the season, the Blue Collar tribe maintained a delicate hold on power, sticking together the longest. Eventually, Mike Holloway emerged as the winner, representing the Blue Collar group.

Out of the 18 contestants, only two were people of color: So Kim, the first player voted off, and Will Sims II, who made it to the final three and received a single vote. So was part of the White Collar team, while Will belonged to the No Collar group. The Blue Collar team had no people of color.

This lack of diversity wasn’t unique to this season. Survivor has historically featured predominantly white casts. For instance, Season 28 had five people of color, while Season 26 included just four out of a cast of 20. The imbalance was noticeable.

After 40 seasons, Survivor finally recognized that their casting practices did not fully serve the audience, the players, or the game. The production team took advantage of the pandemic-induced hiatus to introspect.

In late 2020, Inside Survivor reported that the show committed to having at least 50 percent of all cast members be Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. They have adhered to this goal in the six seasons following their return with Season 41.

The impact has been overwhelmingly positive. While post-COVID Survivor has introduced several rule changes, such as a shorter 26-day game, the diverse casts have revitalized the show. This inclusivity proved to be a missing piece that helped the game evolve. It’s evident that addressing this issue should have happened much sooner, a fact that became painfully clear in seasons like “Worlds Apart.”

Even when Season 30 premiered in the spring of 2015, diehard fans noted the lack of diversity, already a long-standing issue with the show. Revisiting these seasons now makes the lack of representation even more glaringly apparent, and it’s clear that the game suffered as a result.

Fortunately, Survivor has addressed the issue of diversity, though it took far too long. Fans could have been more vocal over the years, and the show should have been more proactive.

Source: Inside Survivor