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Man Writes Viral Song Asking the One Burning Question About “Survivor, ”and Jeff Probst Gives 'Legendary' Response (Exclusive)

Sara Belcher, Andrea Wurzburger
3 min read
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So how do contestants wear glasses on 'Survivor'?

CBS Liz Wilcox on 'Survivor'

CBS

Liz Wilcox on 'Survivor'

One TikTok musician is asking the question all Survivor fans are thinking: how do you wear glasses on Survivor?

In a minute-long video posted to the app on Nov. 24, Oliver Richman, 24, posted a quick ditty as part of his personal challenge to write a song every day.

The track, which sounds like it belongs in a musical adaptation of the survival reality show, ponders how the contestants with glasses manage to compete successfully on the show.

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Richman tells PEOPLE exclusively, “As a Survivor fan and full-time glasses wearer, I am always fascinated and amazed by the way the players, specifically those who might not have the best vision, adapt to the physical demands of the game. And the question of how people with glasses navigate that was on my mind that day!”

He sings at the heart of the track, “I just wanna know is it a special kind of frame? A frame that is impossible to break in the middle of a challenge — cause I know mine wouldn’t do the same.”

“If I take mine off, and I set them free I won’t see. How do you see?” he riffs.

Related: Survivor Returns: Look Back on Some of the Series' Most Memorable Moments

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The now-viral video has already amassed more than 800,000 views, and even drawn the attention of some former contestants from the show — who provided some very insightful answers.

“I wore contacts to challenges but brought my glasses in case it was a water/puzzle combo,” Owen Knight, who placed third on Survivor 43, commented on the video. “I was terrified of a contact falling out and being blind.”

“I slept with my contacts for far too long on the island to ever avoid having to think about this question,” joked J. Maya from Survivor 45.

But it seems the concern about glasses wasn’t enough to hold any of these contestants back. Kenzie Petty, the winner of Survivor 46, admitted to losing her glasses often as she competed — though she still left the island a winner.

Robert Voets/CBS Jeff Probst in 2023

Robert Voets/CBS

Jeff Probst in 2023

Related: Inside the Survivor Casting Process: Here’s How to Apply (and Prove You Have What it Takes!)

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“I lost mine all the time and tiff [Tiffany Nicole Ervin] would find them in like random bushes I stuck them in ??,” she commented on Richman’s video.

Richman, who was introduced to Survivor by his best friend, says, “I am flabbergasted and blown away that some of my favorite players have seen that video, let alone answered my question! The Survivor community is so cool. Every response reminds me that if you truly believe in something, there is always a way to get there.”

The video garnered enough attention that host Jeff Probst himself responded to Richman’s song via the official CBS Survivor TikTok — providing a new track for this unofficial Survivor TikTok musical.

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“You show up. You play. And you beat the masses,” Probst sang in the video. “Don’t let a little fog keep you from the fight. There’s a place in the jungle, your flame’s still burning bright.”

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So what do contestants with glasses do on Survivor?

“Apply to be on Survivor and we’ll figure out the glasses,” Probst sang.

Richman described Probst’s serenade as “freaking legendary.” He adds, “I literally felt like I was in a dream. I’m friends with the incredible Janani K. Jha (from Season 45) and we called right after and talked about what an icon Jeff is. It truly was a highlight of my year and I’m super super honored to watch the joy of music being spread in such a fun way.”

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