Cheating on 'Survivor'?
By TMZ Staff
Published
Two former 'Survivor: Borneo' contestants tell TMZ they flatly dispute the allegation of Richard Hatch's lawyer that the TV show covered up cheating. But two others on the island say there were some shenanigans in the dark of night.
Hatch is currrently on trial in a Rhode Island federal court for failing to pay taxes on his million-dollar prize, which he won in the first season of 'Survivor.' This morning, his lawyer, Michael Minns, told the judge that Hatch caught some of his fellow contestants trying to have friends sneak food to them on the island. According to Minns, Hatch struck a deal with the producers: he would keep quiet about the cheating and the show would pay the taxes on the grand prize if he won.
Today, Rudy Boesch, one of Hatch's fellow contestants, told TMZ, "I think he's just talking. What friends could bring...food? There ain't no friends on the island."
Dr. Sean Kenniff, another contestant, echoed Boesch's sentiment to TMZ: "I never witnessed any cheating by 'Survivor' contestants, 'Survivor' producers or other 'Survivor' staff."
"During my 36 days on the island," Kenniff added, "I lost about 30 pounds -- fair evidence that I certainly wasn't the recipient of any prohibited food!"