While the cast list for Survivor 50 included many memorable names, some fan favorites couldn’t help but express their disappointment.
Host Jeff Probst revealed on Wednesday, May 26, that season 50 will include 24 returning players which features two previous winners, several multi-time castaways and two names from Survivor 49 who have yet to be revealed.
The cast includes legends Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth, Borneo’s Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, The Australian Outback’s runner-up Colby Donaldson, multi-time players Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Aubry Bracco, Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers runner-up Chrissy Hofbeck, David vs. Goliath’s Mike White, Christian Hubicki and Angelina Keely, Edge of Extincion’s Rick Devens, Survivor 42’s Jonathan Young, Survivor 45’s Dee Valladares and Emily Flippen, Survivor 46’s Quintavius “Q” Burdette, Tiffany Ervin and Charlie Davis, Survivor 47’s Genevieve Mushaluk and Survivor 48’s Kamilla Karthigesu, Kyle Fraser and Joe Hunter.
After the names were announced, multiple players came forward to reveal they were in the running to be on Survivor 50 but ultimately got the axe.
During a sit-down with CBS Mornings after dropping the cast, Probst confessed — without naming names — that the process of narrowing down the players was grueling.
“We went from 200 on a list to 100, to 80, to 50. And then those last 26, they were brutal cuts. And they still are,” the long-time Survivor host recalled. “There are so many people we could have put out there, but there are only so many people you can put on the show.”
Keep scrolling to see which past players have shared their emotional reactions to not being included in the Survivor 50 cast:
Jerri Manthey
Jerri, who first appeared on Survivor: The Australian Outback alongside Colby, took to Instagram to share an emotional video two days before the cast officially dropped. In the clip, Jerri appeared outside in nature rocking visibly upset.
“SURVIVOR SEASON 50 #nuffsaid,” she captioned the reel.
Many fans and fellow alumni took to the comments to give Jerri her flowers.
“You deserved to be there. And yeah I don’t care. I am saying deserved. Because you did,” Survivor 44 and Traitors alum Carolyn Wiger replied.
Kelley Wentworth responded, “We love you Jerri!!!!! Their mistake and our loss.”
Abi Maria Gomes
The Philippines and Cambodia alum expressed her disappointment in not being included in Survivor 50.
“Feeling All the Feels Today 💔❤️ To my amazing friends heading out for Survivor 50 — I’m beyond happy for you. Truly. You’ve worked hard, you deserve this, and I can’t wait to see you shine. Go out there, be bold, be brilliant, and kick some serious ass. 🙌🔥,” she wrote via Facebook on Tuesday, May 27. “As for me… I’ve poured nearly nine months into the casting process, and today I found out I wasn’t chosen.”
Abi Maria added that while she’s “crying tears of heartbreak” for herself she also had “tears of joy for those who made it.”
“For now, I’m kindly stepping back from the show to give my heart a little time to heal,” she continued. “But please know I’m cheering from afar, and I’ll be watching with love (and maybe a box of tissues). 💕.”
Davie Rickenbacker
While three of his costars made it back to Fiji, the David vs. Goliath alum announced to fans he would not be joining them.
“If you know me, you know I’m the biggest advocate for taking your Ls in silence. But this one L, y’all won’t let me do it. You’re in my comments, you’re in my DMs, you’re on Twitter, you at me everywhere asking if I’m going to be on Survivor season 50,” he quipped in a Tuesday TikTok video. “So I’ve decided to go ahead and rip the Band-Aid off. I got cut.”
Davie acknowledged that it “sucks” for him but he truly appreciates the Survivor community who have supported him since he was on the show in 2018. The content creator also shared that after speaking to his therapist, the professional advised him to “take a break from it all.”
“Yes. I’m still in therapy because of this bulls***,” he joked. “That’s what I’ve decided to do. It’s been seven years since my stint on reality TV.”
Davie added that despite not making an appearance on Survivor or other reality shows since his first time out, he has been an alternate for shows like The Challenge and The Traitors.
“I made it to the final round of Survivor 50 and I’m tired of these shows playing with me,” he joked before getting serious. “All I really wanted was to return and play in the 50 percent BIPOC era on a level playing field, all that we worked for.”
While Davie was grateful to see more diverse casting on Survivor in recent years — thanks to CBS’ 2020 pledge to include half of the cast to be contestants who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — he worried he might be forgotten down the line.
“If I’m being honest, I’m probably really envious,” he said.
Jesse Lopez
While Jesse announced early on he was not in contention for Survivor 50, the cutthroat Survivor 43 strategist couldn’t help but express his discontent.
“To be real, it stings. But my kids still run around telling people I’m a Survivor all star with or without 50,” Jesse wrote via X on Wednesday after the news dropped. “Gonna keep doing s*** to impress my kids & get that money baby!”
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