Australian Survivor star sparks outrage for saying she’s ‘more African-American’ than a black contestant: ‘I can’t believe I said that!’
Australian Survivor has sparked outrage among some viewers over a questionable comment from one of this season’s contestants.
At Monday’s premiere of Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains, wildlife filmmaker Rogue Rubin told fellow tribesman Nina Twine, who is black, that she was “more African-American” than she was.
Rogue was born in Cape Town to a Zimbabwean mother and a South African father, but her background was not explained on Survivor.
Australian Survivor sparked a backlash on social media after South African-born contestant Rogue Rubin told US-born Nina Twine, who is black, that she was “more African-American” than she was. both in the photo
With most viewers unaware of Rogue’s background, her comment shocked viewers on social media and angered Nina’s mother, Survivor legend Sandra Diaz-Twine.
‘I feel for Nina. She is already playing in a cast with little diversity, as the only black person, let alone the only non-Australian, only to have Rogue offensively undermine her identity from the start,” one viewer tweeted.
“I’m surprised Rogue said that to Nina!!!” another exclaimed, while one fan said, ‘I feel like she’s being dramatic and saying/asking for controversial things to gain airtime or become popular with the audience?’
Nina is the daughter of Survivor legend Sandra Diaz-Twine. In the photo together
Nine’s mother had the harshest response to the scandal, slamming Rogue in a fiery tweet and Instagram post.
‘Rogue b***h, this is outrageous. How are you so ignorant! Didn’t you say you had a sense of right and wrong?’, she raged.
‘F*** please. Bye, mate,” Sandra added.
The incident took place while the Hero tribe was building their camp.
Rogue was born in Cape Town to a Zimbabwean mother and a South African father, but her background was not explained on Survivor.
After Nina explained that she was from the East Coast of the United States, Rogue was unimpressed and replied, “Since I live there half the time, I don’t need you to explain it to me like I’m an idiot.”
Seemingly stunned, Nina replied ‘gotcha’, but Rogue kept talking.
‘I work in the United States all the time. I’m more African American than you, you have to understand that,’ Rogue said.
‘Because I’m from Africa,’ he added.
Nine’s mother had the harshest response to the scandal, criticizing Rogue in a tweet and an Instagram post.
Nina laughed awkwardly, but seemed to ignore the comment and continue working at the camp.
Rogue is a famed wildlife filmmaker best known for her documentary Lion Spy, in which she went undercover with trophy hunters in Africa.
Since the episode aired, Rogue has removed all mention of Survivor from their Instagram page and disabled their comments.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Rogue and Channel 10 for comment.
Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains is currently airing on Channel 10 and streaming on 10Play