“Survivor 47” stars Rachel LaMont and Sol Yi responded to the “Friends” alum’s take on the season 1 victor.

Survivor alums react to Lisa Kudrow calling Richard Hatch ‘despicable’ winner

"Survivor 47" stars Rachel LaMont and Sol Yi responded to the "Friends" alum's take on the season 1 victor.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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March 18, 2026 10:30 p.m. ET

Richard Hatch on 'Survivor'; Lisa Kudrow in Los Angeles on Nov. 10, 2024. Credit:

CBS via Getty; Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Lisa Kudrow unleashed some strong fighting words about *Survivor*'s first-ever winner — and now, other alums from the show are weighing in.

The *Friends* alum opined that Richard Hatch, who won the inaugural season of the CBS reality series in 2000, was "despicable" in a recent interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*. During an ** live chat on Wednesday, season 47 victor Rachel LaMont and her former competitor Sol Yi shared their thoughts on her comments.

"I'm not sure Lisa Kudrow understands *Survivor*," LaMont said in response to a question about Kudrow's comments regarding Hatch.

Sol Yi on 'Survivor'; Rachel LaMont on 'Survivor'.

Robert Voets/CBS; CBS

"I think whoever wins each season of *Survivor* played the best game," Yi said. "The jury doesn't lie."

Yi also indicated that he respected Kudrow's take, especially given her *Friends* bona fides.

"Phoebe can say whatever she wants," Yi said. "That's what makes *Survivor* great: Everyone has a different opinion."

Richard Hatch on 'Survivor'.

Monty Brinton/CBS

A representative for Kudrow did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment.

Kudrow slammed Hatch during broader comments about her admiration for *Survivor*.

"I saw the very first season of *Survivor* and loved it. What a phenomenal show, but the guy who won was despicable," she said. "How do people say that he played a better game worthy of $1 million? Why aren’t you rewarding the person who played a great game, didn’t stoop to his level and was a shining example of humanity? That person should get $1 million."

For Kudrow, Hatch's victory over runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth had disturbing implications. "I remember thinking, 'This is the end of civilization,'" she said.

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Kudrow was also distressed by another reality competition show.

"Then I watched *Amazing Race* and saw people vomiting on TV in front of the entire nation, crying while their partners screamed, ‘Keep going!'" she remembered. "It was the most humiliating thing I’d ever seen, and people were signing up for that? How are they going to feel once they realize what they allowed to happen on camera?"

Elsewhere in the live chat, Yi revealed that he "almost" returned to *Survivor* for season 48: "Would have loved to have played with all the other bros."

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Yi also shared a few other shows on which he'd like to compete.

"I just saw they're redoing *American Gladiators*!" he said. "Also *The Challenge*...Neither of those shows want the smoke. Lastly, I would love to show off my fits on *Traitors*."

- Survivor Fandom

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Survivor”