One of the most infamous villains in the history of “Survivor” claims he has never met a person worse than Donald Trump.
Richard Hatch made history when he became the first-ever winner of the popular CBS reality show in 2000, a feat he achieved partly by also pioneering the “bad guy” persona that would become a staple of the genre.
Hatch is absent from the ongoing landmark Season 50 of “Survivor,” but that hasn’t kept him out of the limelight.
In a recent interview, the reality star did not hold back when sharing his thoughts on Trump. Their paths crossed when Hatch joined the future president’s “The Apprentice” franchise in 2011.
Donald Trump Hosted Richard Hatch On ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’
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After being crowned the Sole Survivor in Season 1 of “Survivor,” Hatch returned three years later to compete in the show’s All-Star edition.
His next attempt at a major reality TV victory came in 2011, when he joined the cast of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Trump.
Hatch was one of several reality TV personalities featured on the season, alongside celebrities like La Toya Jackson, Meat Loaf, Star Jones, and Gary Busey.
The “Survivor” winner quickly became a focal point on the show. Serving as project manager for the men’s team early in the competition, Hatch helped shape the group’s strategy.
He also clashed with fellow contestants on several occasions. Hatch was ultimately fired in the fifth episode of the season.
Hatch Slams Donald Trump As ‘Grotesquely Manipulative’
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In an interview with Tim Murphy for The Caftan Chronicles, Hatch reflected on his past interactions with Trump, describing the New York real estate mogul as “grotesquely manipulative.”
“He is probably the worst human being I’ve ever met in my life,” Hatch said. “He’s one of the most effective people in a room I’ve ever met, but affable isn’t the word. He’s grotesquely manipulative. It’s all about what he can get out of any situation.”
Hatch went on to claim that Trump often tried to stay close to him because of the media attention the “Survivor” star was receiving at the time.
“He wanted to be anywhere I was, because at that time, I was [getting all the cameras],” he said. “Anywhere I was, he wanted to be.”
Hatch Remains One Of Reality TV’s Most Notorious Figures
Hatch has long held a reputation as one of the most controversial figures in reality television history.
In fact, many fans and critics consider him the original villain of the genre because of how he played the game on “Survivor” and the scandals that followed.
Hatch repeatedly found himself making the headlines on the CBS reality series, including multiple instances where he went fully naked.
In 2006, the Season 1 winner was convicted of tax evasion after failing to report approximately $1.4 million in income. According to Wealth Management, this sum included his “Survivor” winnings.
Hatch has continued leaning into his villainous reputation while appearing on other reality programs.
That includes “House of Villains,” a show that literally casts antagonistic personalities or controversial figures.
Donald Trump And Hatch Both Faced High-Profile Tax Controversies
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Apart from their shared history in reality television, Trump and Hatch have also spent years in the headlines over questions surrounding their respective tax situations.
Hatch’s legal troubles stemmed from a failure to report income, while Trump’s controversies have largely centered on tax avoidance strategies and legal scrutiny into his finances.
Hatch was actually convicted of tax-related crimes in January 2006 and later sentenced to 51 months in prison.
Hatch Says His Tax Troubles Cost Him A Return To ‘Survivor’
In his interview with The Caftan Chronicles, Hatch continued to maintain his innocence. He also alleged that his legal situation cost him two openings to compete on “Survivor” again.
“The IRS has prevented me from working. They blocked two “Survivor” opportunities,” Hatch said. “We’re still in court. They’re trying to steal my sister’s property, long story. I’ve been insolvent since 2004, not allowed to earn any income.”
As for his “House of Villains” appearance, Hatch theorized that the opportunity may not have involved enough money to attract the attention of the authorities.
“I guess I didn’t earn enough for them to take it, or they probably didn’t know I was doing it,” he said.
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