Spoilers for Season 49 of Survivor
I have a confession: I really didn’t enjoy season 49 of Survivor. I think that winner Savannah was the most deserving out of the Final 3, but overall, it was boring with frustrating gameplay. The post-game fallout, however, is turning out to be more entertaining than the season itself. Third place winner and blackhead aficionado Sage has been spilling tea all over the place. It started during her exit interviews, when she told Dalton Ross that she felt “very alone” on the island and confessed to Rob Cesternino that playing Survivor was “boring.”
Emboldened by the attention, Sage kept going, leaking behind-the-scenes details via social media, including that a total of six unnamed contestants were a part of the pre-game cheating scandal that had cost two of those players spots on the show. On Monday, Sage decided that she officially had no f-cks to give and released a YouTube video naming two of the alleged cheaters as sea krait bite victim Jake Latimer and second place finisher (Blue) Sophi. She also claimed that she was afraid that they’d retaliate against her and threatened to reveal more dirt on both of them if they did.
In August, Survivor host Jeff Probst revealed that two alternates — Jason Treul and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu — entered the game only 12 hours before filming started after two castaways were kicked off for a rules violation.
Previously, [Sage] Ahrens-Nichols claimed that four other castaways, in addition to the two that were booted from the season, were involved in the pregaming. Initially, she didn’t provide names of the offenders, but now, she’s naming two castaways who allegedly participated: Sophi Balerdi and Jake Latimer.
In an unlisted video posted to YouTube on Monday, Jan. 5, Ahrens-Nichols alleges that Balerdi and Latimer — who both began the game on the Kele tribe — met up with other castaways secretly at night and engaged in conversations while on boats to and from media days.
She added that she wasn’t comfortable sharing the name of the third offender, as she did not witness any pregaming from this individual firsthand, but rather heard about it from her co-stars. As for the fourth person, Ahrens-Nichols refused to share the name as she believed they demonstrated a “willingness to learn and grow” and they were not an instigator of the conversations.
Ahrens-Nichols also claimed to know why two of the cheaters were removed from the show. According to her, the two contestants were removed after Kristina Mills allegedly reported them to production after hearing of a plan for her to be the first boot from the Hina tribe.
The finalist noted that she is sharing this information to validate those whose games were impacted by the pregaming, but made it clear that she isn’t encouraging fans to send hate towards anyone’s way.
“I am speaking up for the people who have been silenced throughout this whole ordeal,” she said, noting her personal philosophy is to not “end hate with hate.”
She also directly addressed Latimer, saying that if he tried to message her with any threats, she would release more information about his alleged bad behavior on the island.
“I want to give you this opportunity to take accountability for the pregaming, and maybe that helps you to pause and reflect on your actions as a whole, so that you course correct some things,” Ahrens-Nichols said. “I think that everybody has the ability and capacity to be a better human. I’m not saying that you’re a s–t human. I am saying that you did some sh–ty things.”
Returning contestants often talk before they get to the island, but violating the pregame sequester is a big no-no. If Jake and Sophi really were illegally pregaming, then neither of them should ever be invited back to play again. I feel badly for the players whose games were potentially impacted by it. And what does she mean when she says that Jake may threaten her? That’s so ominous! In the end, though, Jake was out after the snake bite on day six, and Sophi didn’t exactly play a good game. She blew her chance to make a game-winning move and it had nothing to do with cheating and everything to do with the RizGod’s remarkable ability to hold onto his teflon idol.
I’m intrigued as to who the other two alleged cheaters are. Sage has eliminated Rizo and (Yellow) Sophie B, and it doesn’t sound like it was Kristina. I doubt Sage’s closest ally, Jawan, was involved. My very speculative guess would be Alex, who was closely aligned with Jake and Sophi on Kele, and Shannon, who Sage targeted relentlessly in the pre-merge. Ugh, season 49 really was such an all-around mess. Let’s move on to season 50.
Survivor lost the plot a long time ago in my opinion.
Survivor has really turned into one messy B. But also, somehow, repetitive and boring and almost tedious. Season 49 was borderline unwatchable, and the previews for season 50 turned me off completely. Conveniently, our household is now boycotting all things CBS, Paramount+, etc., so we won’t be watching any more Survivor, which I can’t believe I’m saying because Survivor was my favorite show for the better part of 20 years. It’s the sad end of an era for me. Bye, B.
Shannon was already cleared. She was apparently a real rules follower. Alex is the most likely and savannahs been ID’d as the most likely fourth. Sage has indicated one of the four as well.