Jackson Fox, First Openly Trans Contestant on ‘Survivor,’ Asked to Leave After One Episode

Jackson Fox is a healthcare worker, born in Pasadena, Texas and currently living in Houston. He enjoys puzzling, weightlifting, and walking dogs, describing himself as “kind, dedicated, and assertive” and taking personal pride in running his own company. He was also set to be the first openly trans contestant on the long-running reality hit, Survivor, though things quickly took a turn, when Jackson was asked to leave after just one episode

The CBS reality show aired the first episode its 42nd season on Wednesday; Fox was set to make history as the first voluntarily out trans contestant at the time of filming, though he was asked to leave after he failed to disclose relevant medical information until the day before shooting began.

Host Jeff Probst visited the island and confronted Fox about taking lithium, which he began using to combat anxiety and sleep deprivation while caring for his sick mother.

“So just to be clear, the only problem with this medication is it does have a reaction when you are stressed, not eating, dehydrated, not sleeping, physically demanding challenges, and that’s where our concern came,” Probst tells Jackson. “The cumulative effect of the show would potentially have a very bad impact on you. We don’t want that; your safety is paramount. We can’t do it. We can’t.”

Fox says he initially didn’t tell Survivor about his lithium use because he was attempting to quit and hoped to wean himself off of it by the time filming began. He also addressed the stigma around the drug.

“The fear is everyone hears the word, lithium, and they go way back in time. And they’re like, ‘That was a huge drug back in the day.’ That was a scary drug to be on.”

He left with high spirits, though, expressing gratitude and saying, “It was the best 48 hours I’ve had ever.”

In a promotional video ahead of the season, Fox shares how being trans has prepared him for the reality show:“I think if you can go through the process of pretty much revitalizing your entire life and bearing it all, I think you can go on Survivor and bear it all as well.”

Fox adds, “I want that to be a part of who I am because it made me who I am; I think they’re going to underestimate me at first, but once they get to know me, I’m going to win people over slowly but surely.”

Elisa Lobatos-Briones and Keegan Williams contributed to this report.

Photo Courtesy of Jackson Fox on Instagram