May 1, 2022
Watch: Deleted Scene Shows 'Survivor' Cast Member Romeo Coming Out to His Supportive Tribe
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A deleted scene from "Survivor 42" shows cast member Romeo Escobar coming clean about his authentic self with the gathered members of his tribe, and talking about how being among the show's "macho men" made him feel the need to closet himself.
Entertainment Weekly posted the clip online, providing this background:
After Hai Giang talked about his dating life and meeting someone on Tinder, Romeo Escobar took his new tribemate aside to open up about his own journey and how he had not shared his true sexuality with many members of his family, including ones who would find out he was gay by watching the show.
However, what the broadcast edition left out was a scene in which Romeo had a coming out moment with the others, as well.
"In an exclusive deleted scene from this week's episode, we learn that while Romeo had shared his story with Hai, he had not, in fact, shared with it with the entire cast," EW reported.
In an interview, Romeo said he hadn't intended to be "hiding my sexuality," but when he found himself "put in a tribe with one of the most macho men out here, with Rocksroy," he resorted to self-censoring and going into the closet by default.
"But now, moving forward, I wanted to get rid of that baggage," Romeo added.
EW recounted how, on Day 17, Romeo had had enough of being back in the closet. As the Kula Kula tribe gathered around a fire, he told them the story of how he's tried to pass for a straight in his younger days.
Being on the show, he confessed, "took me back to high school and college, where I had to hide who I really was. In high school I had to fit in, and the way I would fit in and not be picked on was to date a cheerleader. And then when I got to college, I was like, 'Okay I have to fit in again. I want to be a part of it.' So I joined a fraternity."
The others in the cast instantly showed their support, EW relayed, wiht "lots of hugs and love all around, even from Romeo's island frenemy Hai, with whom Romo has had an up-and-down ride, to say the least."
Hai for his part, spoke sympathetically of Romeo in an interview, telling the camera that "Romeo is a soft-spoken person" who "had to live essentially in the closet for the first half of the game."
But in that moment around the campfire, the game didn't matter, Romeo said, telling the camera that "for that one minute, the game just stopped and we were human beings. That moment for me goes beyond the game. It was a moment of finally being free."
The scene might have been left on the cutting room floor, but the moment itself transcends the show.
"Maybe I can inspire someone to not be afraid anymore," Romeo said.
Watch the deleted scene below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.