Jeff Probst Reveals How He and Billie Eilish Came Up with the Survivor Idea for Her Boomerang Idols (Exclusive)

Years after Billie Eilish sang about Survivor on her 2022 song “TV,” the pop star’s love of the show is impacting contestants on the current 50th season via a new advantage called the Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol.

Survivor host Jeff Probst exclusively revealed the origins of the game-changing immunity idol to PEOPLE at The Tribe Has Spoken: An Evening with Jeff Probst and Survivor 50 Castaways event on March 10.

“We sent her a couple of ideas, and she decided which one she liked; she said, ‘I like the Boomerang.’ Then, we kind of wrote out the clue, and she approved that as well,” Probst, 64, recalled of the first-of-its-type idol.

“It was really fun to collaborate with her. She was enthusiastic about it,” the longtime host said of the 10-time Grammy winner, 24.

During the first two episodes of season 50, returnees Genevieve Mushaluk and Christian Hubicki each found hidden clues for separate Billie Eilish Boomerang Idols on their respective tribe’s beaches in Fiji.

The twist with this idol is that the person who found the clue must secretly give the Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol to someone on an opposing tribe.

The player who is given this idol must keep it until they use it to avoid being eliminated at tribal council or are voted out without using it. If the latter happens, it boomerangs back to the person who found the clue.

The idol adds a new strategic layer to season 50, as the person giving the idol away can either ally with the other contestant later in the game or hope that the idol holder gets voted out without using the idol.

In the premiere episode, Genevieve willed the idol to Ozzy Lusth. In the following episode, Christian bestowed the idol on Aubry Bracco.

During the event at The Paley Museum in New York City, Probst elaborated on the Boomerang Idol, saying, “We just thought it was fun in the season that was about the fans to have a few fans who are also these giant pop culture success figures and have them in the game.”

In her song “TV,” Eilish sings, “I put on Survivor just to watch somebody suffer.” She has also expressed interest in competing on the reality competition show.

“Well, I saw a little interview with Billie where she said, ‘I think I might want to play,’ and I’m just saying, the invitation is there,” Probst told PEOPLE. “It seems unlikely. It’s a long commitment, but Billie’s always welcome.”