A former contestant on the reality television show “Survivor” has been arrested and charged with rape and aggravated assault. Silas Gaither, 41, who appeared on Season 3 of the CBS hit reality competition, was taken into custody in Shelby County, Tennessee.
According to TMZ, the arrest stems from an incident that allegedly occurred in 2018. Details surrounding the case have not yet been fully disclosed to the public. A grand jury indicted Gaither, who subsequently posted his $50,000 bail and was released pending further legal proceedings.
Gaither participated in the 2001-2002 season of “Survivor,” titled “Survivor: Africa.” He was voted off the show at the end of the sixth episode. That season was the first to introduce the tribe swap mechanic, a twist that significantly altered the game’s dynamics. The tribe swap involved randomly selecting players from different tribes to join opposing teams, forcing contestants to quickly adapt and build new alliances. Silas was eliminated immediately after the first tribal swap.
The “Survivor” series, currently airing its 39th season, has faced other controversies. Recently, the show addressed claims of inappropriate touching made by contestant Kellee Kim against fellow contestant Dan Spilo. Two other contestants, Missy Byrd and Elizabeth Beisel, initially supported Kim’s claims, alleging similar experiences. However, they later admitted to exaggerating their accounts to gain a strategic advantage in the game, which led to considerable backlash. How to act when you’re caught in the crosshairs of controversy.
Representatives for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Gaither’s arrest.
Keywords: Survivor, Rape, Aggravated Assault, CBS, Arrest, Controversy, Reality TV, Shelby County.