He’s a winner turned loser—-at least that’s how I classify Richard Hatch. In 2000 Hatch became a household name when he won CBS’s first installment of “Survivor.” He walked away with movie star status and earned $1 million dollars. But seven years later, the “survivor” who achieved near-iconic status now says he hates his life. What a difference a few years can make.
Last month the 45-year-old granted reporters a rare look into his jailhouse lifestyle. “Jailhouse?” Yup. Hatch now calls a cell at a minimum-security prison in Morgantown, West Virginia—home. In 2006, Hatch was convicted on three counts of evading taxes on his $1 million “Survivor” winnings and other income from a rental property and a former radio job. He was sentenced to 51 months behind bars and has completed 14 months of it. Now he says he is ready to set the record straight.
“People think I’ve come to a country club. It’s not. This is prison. Just because it’s got a beautiful view of the countryside doesn’t make it a resort,” Hatch told reporters. “And it’s horrendous because I’m an innocent man in jail.”
Did I mention the interview Hatch provided to the media was also an avenue for him to explain why he contends he has been “unduly caged?” The “Survivor” winner maintains that he saw a member of the program’s crew giving food to other contestants during the show.
“I caught them cheating – that’s where this story really begins,” Hatch says. “I demanded that something be done.”
That “something” Hatch says was an agreement he struck with the show’s executive producer. According to Hatch, the producer agreed to pay his taxes if he’d keep quiet about the cheating.
A CBS spokeswoman offered this response to Hatch’s allegations:
“The allegations have no merit, and certainly no one connected with the show agreed to pay the taxes on Richard’s prize money.”
Hatch says he has attorneys working to fight his conviction. In addition, the “Survivor” winner says he is surviving in jail by “working on a book that I should have no trouble getting published.”
What do you think? I have to say that I question Hatch’s allegations about the deal he struck with the show’s executive producer. However, you’d be surprised how many Hatch fans believe that he was given a raw deal. There are several “Free Richard Hatch” websites dedicated to providing “support” for Hatch while he is in jail. I wonder if he is allowed Internet access behind bars?
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