Kentucky GOP Rep. Nick Wilson, A ‘Survivor’ Winner, Pulls Bill That Would Have Legalized Sex Between First Cousins

Kentucky State Rep. Nick Wilson, a former Survivor winner, was forced to change a bill that he wrote that, if passed, would have legalized sex between first cousins in his state.

Wilson, who is a Republican, called his mistake “embarrassing.” 

“During the drafting process, there was an inadvertent change, which struck ‘first cousins’ from the list of relationships included under the incest statute, and I failed to add it back in,” Wilson wrote. “During today’s session, I will withdraw HB 269 and refile a bill with the ‘first cousin’ language intact.”

Wilson believed the bill would add “sexual contact” to the state’s current incest statute.

“Currently, incest only applies in cases of intercourse. So sexual touching/groping by uncles, stepdads, or anyone with a familial relationship is not included in incest,” he said. “My bill makes that kind of sexual contact a Class D Felony, unless the victim is under the age of 12, then it increases the penalty to a Class C Felony.”

The bill Wilson introduced would effectively remove first cousins from engaging in unlawful incestuous relationships. Kentucky prohibits marriages between first cousins outright. 

Wilson, a public defender, won his Kentucky seat unopposed. He won Survivor: David vs. Goliath, and also competed in Winners at War during Survivors’ 20th anniversary.