In a surprising turn of events, Kentucky Republican Rep. Nick Wilson, who gained fame as the winner of the reality TV show "Survivor: David vs. Goliath," is facing backlash for sponsoring a bill that would have legalized sexual relations between first cousins. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Wilson introduced House Bill 269, which removed "first cousins" from the list of relatives it is illegal to have sex with in the state.

The bill's content sparked outrage and caught the attention of Eliza Orlins, a New York public defender and former "Survivor" contestant herself. Orlins took to social media to express her shock, urging followers to draw attention to Wilson's controversial legislation. "Kentucky, like so many other places, is facing a lot of issues, and this is Nick's top legislative priority," she wrote.

Responding to the growing controversy, Wilson took to Facebook to address the situation, claiming that the removal of "first cousins" from the bill was a mistake. He clarified that the purpose of the bill was to extend the definition of incest to include "sexual contact" rather than just intercourse. Wilson emphasized that his intention was to make such acts a Class D Felony, with harsher penalties for victims under the age of 12.

Acknowledging the oversight, Wilson assured his followers that he would withdraw the bill and re-introduce it with the "first cousin" language intact. He expressed regret for the mistake and the subsequent negative attention it received. "I understand that I made a mistake, but I sincerely hope my mistake doesn't hurt the chances of the corrected version of the bill," wrote Wilson.

Despite the controversy surrounding this incident, it is worth noting that Wilson's ability to promptly withdraw and refile the bill within a 24-hour period is seen by some as a testament to the efficiency of the legislative system.

Nick Wilson gained prominence by winning the 37th season of "Survivor: David vs. Goliath" in 2018. He returned to the show in 2020 for the 40th season, which featured past winners of the show.

As the discussion around the bill continues, it remains to be seen how Wilson's clarification and rectification of the error will impact the fate of the proposed legislation.