Australian Survivor contestant Emmett reveals why he wore those bike shorts

Ousted Survivor star Emmett explains why he really wore those bike shorts viewers labelled “disgusting.”

Australian Survivor’s self-described “plant-based Superman” was voted out in Tuesday night’s episode – which meant viewers finally got to bid a not-so-fond farewell to perhaps the most controversial item of clothing in the show’s history.

Model and fitness influencer Emmett Pugh had worn an increasingly filthy pair of skin-tight Lycra shorts for most of his 37 days in the game.

RELATED: Survivor star’s brutal public sledge

From fluoro yellow …

… to honey mustard.

As the episodes wore on, they prompted increasingly extreme reactions from viewers. A sample of the (printable) complaints on Twitter over the past month – reaching a crescendo during last night’s exit:

“I wish the reward (for all of us) was Emmett being given a new pair of shorts.”

“Just living for the day when I never have to see Emmett’s dirty yellow compression shorts again.”

“I’ll be happy when I never have to see those mustard bike shorts again.”

“I need Emmett to be voted out so I never have to see those godawful dirty yellow bike pants again. They are a crime against humanity.”

“The sight of those manky yellow bike pants …”

“Goodbye to Emmett and his disgusting bike shorts. I can now eat my dinner on Survivor nights again!”

Just once, couldn’t the immunity necklace have come with a bonus pair of shorts?

RELATED: Survivor hit with ‘unimaginable’ tragedy

Speaking to the man himself today after last night’s elimination aired, I had to know: What possessed him? Why did these skin-tight, fluoro shorts make the cut among the limited items of clothing he was allowed to bring with him?

“That’s pretty much my Superman outfit, brother. They are the shorts that I wore when I swam 20km from Perth to Rottnest Island, which took me 10 hours,” he told news.com.au.

“They were definitely a secret weapon – I felt like Superman putting on his outfit. Once the shorts go on, I mean business and I’m ready to smash it. They helped me activate my plant-based Superman identity.”

Until, presumably, they disintegrated? Apparently not – Survivor fans will be *thrilled* to know the shorts are still going strong.

“The shorts have survived! I don’t think they’re ever going to be fluoro again, they’re looking a bit worse for wear … but I’ve given them a wash.”

The shorts may have taken a battering from over a month of “sleeping in the dirt,” but Emmett said it was Survivor’s mental, rather than physical challenges that he found toughest to endure.

“I signed up for the show in 2019 before Covid for a tropical island, so I was shocked when I was cast away to the Outback, the dirt and the freezing cold … but I got pretty used to that,” he said.

“The hardest part was being stuck with a bunch of lunatics 24/7 and not having your own space. Living in camp with a bunch of lunatics who are constantly trying to vote you off.”

Australian Survivor continues 7.30pm Sunday on Ten.