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Survivor Blood vs. Water

Survivor’s Culpepper defends his disability claim

Survivor's Brad Culpepper on ABC News

by Andy Dehnart 29 Jan. 2015 | 3:46 pm

Survivor Blood vs. Water cast member Brad Culpepper is defending himself against claims that he committed insurance fraud, and now Monica regrets asking her husband to go on the CBS show with her.

Brad, who’s known as “Culpepper” to Jeff Probst and “Fuck You Brad Culpepper” to the rest of us, and who previously defended himself against claims he was sexist and racist because of his behavior on Survivor, appeared on Good Morning America and on tonight’s World News Tonight on ABC.

An insurance company is suing him for fraud after paying him $175,000 because he said he was 89 percent disabled; they say the television show contradicts that.

The ABC News segment pairs phrases from his disability claim against clips from the show, and is rather amusing, showing him diving into the water while we learn that he claimed he had difficulty getting in and out of a bathtub.

It’s a bizarre interview because he’s so defensive about how relatively simple claims seem to contradict his televised behavior. He gets so defensive that he eventually takes off his shirt to show off his disfigured bicep.

Interviewer Brian Ross says, “you’re very, very active,” and Brad says, “I absolutely was.”

When he’s asked about diving into water, Brad says, “You keep asking me this. I was on pain medication and I had a back procedure before that.”

Asked about lifting things in challenges despite saying he’s only able to lift objects that are “conveniently positioned, Brad says, “How many times are you gonna–because I’m on pain medication.”

On pain medication during Survivor? Interesting.

At the end of the segment, he holds up a newspaper and says, “I’ve worked way too hard in my life to have this as a headline: Culpepper fakes his injuries.”

Meanwhile, according to ABC News, while Brad doesn’t regret going on the show, Monica said, “I 100 percent wish I had never asked him to be on the show. For all that he’s going through right now and being this insurance company’s target, is not worth it.”

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about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association who serves on its board of directors, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. Learn more about reality blurred and Andy.

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reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

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