“What I hate is that people say season 35 was a really good season until the finale, and then it sucked.”

Survivor 50’s Chrissy Hofbeck opens up about controversial season 35 finish and being bashed by previous cast

"What I hate is that people say season 35 was a really good season until the finale, and then it sucked."

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

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February 6, 2026 9:15 a.m. ET

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Chrissy Hofbeck knows how close she was to winning *Survivor*. And it has nothing to do with the two votes she received at the final Tribal Council for *Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers.*

After winning the final immunity challenge (and tying the record for most individual immunity wins in a single season by a woman with four), Chrissy and company were ready to vote out Ben Driebergen, the biggest competition… only to learn a new final four fire-making twist had been implemented that allowed Ben to escape his fate, beat Devon Pinto in fire, and then defeat Chrissy for the $1 million prize.

The fanbase cried bloody murder — and Chrissy had her doubts as well — believing the twist was unfairly added at the last minute to help Ben win the game, even as host Jeff Probst insisted the new game wrinkle was put into place before the season began (while openly acknowledging the twist was added after many of the perceived “best” players kept being voted out in fourth place).

Regardless, the result (and controversy over it) left a bit of a sour taste in Chrissy’s mouth, as did some of the not-so-kind words about the runner-up from her season 35 castmates. But nothing could dampen Chrissy’s love for *Survivor*, and even with some of those negatives from her last time on the island, there was no way this longtime-fan-turned-fan-favorite could resist a return invitation for *Survivor 50* (which premieres Feb. 25 on CBS).

Chrissy, now 54, is bringing a much different attitude to the island this time — one that is, believe it or not, even more confident that her previous outing. So confident, she insists she is not only playing *Survivor 50*, but WINNING *Survivor 50*.

** spoke with Chrissy in Fiji just days before the game began in a wide-ranging, candid chat about healing old wounds, moving past imposter syndrome, and why just a day prior she had finally been fully convinced the fix was not in on season 35.

*(This is one of 24 deep-dive, on-location interviews with the *Survivor 50 *cast. Links to the other interviews will be posted at the bottom of this article as they become available.)*

Chrissy Hofbeck of 'Survivor 50'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**: Okay, Chrissy, I know there’s been a lot of noteworthy things in your life since we last saw you on *Survivor*, so give everybody the update.**

**CHRISSY HOFBECK:** I got another job, because I got fired from my job for playing the last time. I love my new job, moved to Florida so that I can enjoy the sunshine every single day. The medical is the bigger news, although it was like a blip on the radar for me, but two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with BRCA, also known as BRCA gene mutation, which left me 85 percent likely to get breast cancer and 25% likely to get ovarian cancer before the age of 70. I was already 52, so eight weeks after my diagnosis, I was on the table saying, “Take it all off.” So I had my breast, ovaries, and fallopian tubes removed.

**It was terrible to hear about that, but also great how open you were on social media going through that.**

I felt like if I didn't go out and say something that it would come of like I was ashamed of it, and there was no part of me that was ashamed of it. Because this is just part of some people's human experience. And gosh, I got so much support. So yeah, it was fine, got it all wrapped up and I'm back in business.

**Why come back and play *Survivor* again?**

Once you play *Survivor*, it's in your blood and you need to get back. You need to get back and do it. And I know I'm eight older now, but *Survivor* is still in my blood. I've still watched every episode since I was on the show, and I still love this game. Do I want to come back and win the million dollars? Absolutely, I do. But mostly, I want to have a lot of fun the second time around.

Chrissy Hofbeck on 'Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers'.

Robert Voets/CBS via Getty

**Did you have fun the first time?**

I did not have fun the first time. I spent 16 years applying for this dream that I wanted, and then I got out there and I was so scared and not really well liked by my cast. The adjective I used to describe my experience was lonely. It was very lonely, so why would I want to come back and play something that was horrible? Because it was also great because I love the strategy. I love the game itself.

When Jeff was talking about 50 and said, “It's a joyful celebration. I'm looking for joyful people” — I thought, that's my season. And when I look around at the people in the room who are playing this game now, these are people who are going to come out and play a great game and have a lot of fun doing it. And if somebody's not doing either one of those things, I think that the group will probably want to vote them out.

So what I really want to do this time is just have fun, savor every moment. I feel like even in pre-game, honestly, Dalton, I've noticed things that I didn't notice last time. Bananas in a tree, I'm stopping to look around and hear the birds and appreciate. I'm just grateful.

**Let's rip the Band-Aid off. Were you robbed by the unannounced fire-making twist in season 35?**

So gosh, there's a lot of reflection that comes with this game and I have realized that there are other seasons in the past where there were surprise twists like final two to final three, idols, swaps. Was fire-making any different? I guess realistically, I have to say no. Did it suck? Yes, it did. It did. But that was the hand I was dealt.

**On his podcast, Probst says that you still tell him to this day that you were robbed.**

Yeah, I don’t know where he came up with [that]. Well, this is the only thing that I can think of that he got that from is the only time that I sort of broached that with him is in one of my interviews for 50 on the Zoom call with him and the CBS execs and the producers. He asked me about it, and I did not want to look him straight in the face and say, “Yeah, I believe that was in [the plans] the whole time.” Because I don't know. So I danced around it and I said, ‘Look, I believe that this is a television show, and the purpose of the television show is to make money and the way you make money is you have a good winner that fans love.”

That's sort of how I answered. I think he got it. The world will never know, right? One producer I really trust actually just said to me a day or two ago, “I swear that was in from the beginning.” And honestly, hearing that from him, that was the first time that I was like, “Oh yeah, it really was.” I feel like that went a long way to healing me.

**You are dancing around it very diplomatically, and what I will say is that I do believe it was put in beforehand, but I also know it was put in place — and Probst has openly confirmed this — to get a player *like* Ben to the end after what happened at the final four in previous seasons.**

But why don’t we put in something in for a player like Chrissy? What about the rest of us? Are we not great players too? So it's interesting, but again, this is the game and sometimes you have to take your lumps. Could I have left season 35 and bashed the show? No. Why? Because I love the show. But it sucked.

What I hate about it is… I hate that I lost, okay? I hate that. People say I was robbed or Devon was robbed, whoever was robbed. But what I also hate is that people say season 35 was a really good season until the finale, and then it sucked. And then it goes to the bottom of the [season rankings] list because of the finale. And that's what I hate.

I think that overall, the fire-making twist would've been better received if everyone knew about it in advance. And if it's voted out in the Hands of the Fans vote, if there is no fire making twist, I think it's only because of how it was introduced in 35.

Chrissy Hofbeck on 'Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers'.

Robert Voets/CBS via Getty

**Oh my God, Chrissy. What if you get voted out at four because there's no fire-making?**

That's a dark thought. No, Jeff has said that thought. Jeff has said that.

**Can you imagine if you come back for 50 and you get to four…**

… and I get voted out? I know. But you know what though? That is the strategy of the game. I think I would be better off. I would honestly rather be voted out at four than lose at fire. I would rather do that. But let me tell you what my thought was? My thought was what if fire-making gets voted down and then final four is a tied vote that goes to fire.

**I’m not going to lie, that is kind of delicious. I remember talking to Ben when he was here for *Winners at War* before the game, and he felt like he really had something to prove because his win was so controversial. Do you feel like you need to prove anything since you did not win? Do you feel that burden at all?**

Oh, I do not feel a burden at all. You know what burden I feel? I feel a burden to be really crappy in challenges.

**I was going to ask you about that. Explain**.

Who would've thought I would've gone into 35 and been a freaking challenge beast? That is so insane and my fear is that as soon as the merge hits, I will be primed to be taken out so that I don't win challenges. So I have to be really careful at that point. Don't win the first individual immunity challenge. Don't win the second one. Probably don't win individual reward challenges. So all of those, I don't want to win. At some point, I will turn up the gas.

Chrissy Hofbeck on 'Survivor 50'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**Anything you regret on a personal level from the last time you played?**

If you asked me the first time I watched my season, I would've said yes. I was so snarky. I did this, I did that. But I've watched my season 500 times since then, even this year, and now I'm like: You know what? I did a damn good job.

Look, I did not have the insight of full information. We only know what's in front of us and what's in front of us may be true and may not be true. And I'm proud of my game and I know I made mistakes, but I'm a human being and so truly if I went out and did it again, I feel like I played a great game the first time out. I really do. I feel sad that I came out of that game and so much of my cast bashed me in the press. That's my sadness around that game.

**How are you with the cast now? Has any of that been smoothed out?**

No. I would think that most of those people who did that, they went off and lived their own lives and I went off and lived mine. I still keep in touch with a bunch of people who I was close to, which is Ashley and Dr. Mike and Ben. We're not besties or anything, but we text now and then.

**It's interesting because *Survivor* can be such a bonding experience, but also a very traumatic one. Do you feel bummed out at all that you're not closer with them in terms of having that communal bond of having that shared experience?**

No, because I found that communal bond with other *Survivor* players in other seasons. We had this Survivor mom squad group. We travelled around. We haven't gotten together in a few years. Actually, Leslie [Nease] and Jill [Behm] both texted me right before I left. They're like, “If the rumors are true, we wish you so much luck!” And I feel so bad I didn't write either one of them back because I didn't want to say anything, but they both sent me such loving messages.

So I found that with the rest of the *Survivor* community, and I'm really looking forward to having that with this group of people. And I think this is going to be my season, Dalton. I'm winning this season.

**Tell me why you say that.**

I'm winning this season. And I thought going into 35 it was going to be a disaster.

**Really? Because you're a confident woman, Chrissy. Why did you think it was going to be a disaster?**

I just thought this was something I wanted. And all of a sudden I was like, *Oh, no*. I really felt like I tricked the producers, and I got out there and I was like, *Now I can't let them know that I tricked them. They thought I was going to be good at this game and I’m horrible.*

7:23 The Cast of ‘Survivor 50’ Reveals Who They Want to Vote Out First

**And why are you so confident this time then?**

I feel like [people from] the thirties are really well positioned between old school and new era. I feel like we can play both sides. And I really think I can win. I heard somebody asking prior winners going into a season, “Do you think you could win?” And almost all of them said, “Heck yeah, I thought I could win!” And I remember thinking: Gee, maybe that's why I lost to Ben. Maybe it had nothing to do with fire-making. Maybe it was because I just never went into it thinking I was winning. And I'm not saying that now. I'm going into this one thinking I'm winning because I really think I can win this season.

**My first time on location was *Survivor: All Stars*, and Boston Rob was there. And you have to remember he didn’t even make the jury his first time out. And in our pre-game interview he said, “Dalton, save this tape recorder. I'm telling you something right now. I'm winning this season. There's no ifs, ands, buts about it. These people have no idea.” Now he didn't win, but he was close and he was dominant. And he had the confidence that you're talking about right now. Alright, let’s talk about the pregaming. We know everyone talks, so how did you handle that?**

Oh, I did not pregame with anyone.

**She says while looking straight at the ground.**

I hope I'm not being stupid about this, but I think that pregaming was kept to an absolute minimum.

**I don't believe you for a second.**

Then I'm in big trouble. First of all, it's tough with the new era because they're all in each other's pockets all the time. I think everyone knows that there's 12 people on this cast who probably all share an apartment together at this point and maybe are a little bolder. Those of us who are older maybe wanted to follow the rules a little bit more. That's all I'm going to say for that.

Chrissy Hofbeck on 'Survivor 50'.

**So you think it puts you at a disadvantage that all these recent players know each other so well and are going to these watch parties together every week?**

Yes, however, I would expect them to bond together anyway. I personally come into this game seeing the beef of “Have you played 26 days or 39?” 39-dayers will say, “You have not played the real game because you don't know what it's like to last those last two weeks. Those last two weeks are just terrible.” And 26 folks say, “But you don't know what it's like to play such a fast game.”

And 50 is where we find out who's right. And so I think it was always going to be 39 versus 26. So I think even if the new eras weren't living in each other's pockets, I think they'd be crazy to not bond together.

**Whom do you want to work with out there?**

Before I was saying I think it's going to be 26 versus 39. I actually hope it *doesn't* come down to that. Only because I look at a season like *Winners at War*, which I thought was a disaster of a season because all of the old school people just went and I didn't think it was interesting. So what I really hope happens in this season is that it becomes sort of like a hodgepodge of eras that work together and just kind of take out people across eras. That's what I hope happens.

** So what’s *your* hodgepodge?**

My hodgepodge is I really want to work with really smart, strategic women. My last time out, I had a pal who was giving me no intel. That would be Ryan. I need to work with people where it's going to be like a two-way street. So when I look in that tent, I look at people like Angelina, Genevieve, Kamilla — I also want to see her have her time to shine. She took a step back for Kyle. So I would love to get those kind of people together to play this game.

**Give me the flip side of who are you wary of out here in the game sense.**

I'm wary of somebody like a Jonathan who already seems to be incredibly well-liked by everyone. He's the kind of guy who makes it to the merge because he's incredibly well-liked by everyone and gets to the end. And if he's sitting at final three, nobody beats him because everybody sits there and goes, “Oh, of course you won *Survivor*. Look at you! You're this gigantic Adonis!” So he worries me in a totally different way.

Christian worries me. Christian is also this extremely charming, charismatic, brilliant guy who everyone loves, and he also hangs out with all those new-era people. Jonathan is very good friends with Boston Rob and is in with that old-school group, and then Christian's in with the new-school group.

**You’re a long-time fan of *Survivor*. Anyone that you're just excited to be on a season with that you're kind of geeking out over?**

Yeah, Jenna. I really hope either I'm on the same tribe with her or she doesn't get voted out before we're on the same tribe. I want to literally sit at night and just ask her a bazillion questions about *Borneo*. I really just want to ask her questions about her life. She's probably the person that I'm most excited to just talk to. Oh, Coach also. I cannot wait to talk to Coach. I think I'm going to really dig him. But I've never talked to Coach, so I'm saying that having not had five minutes with him.

**If I ask the other contestants today, “What's your take on Chrissy Hofbeck?” — what are they going to say?**

Maybe I just come across as an unassuming old lady. The new-school players, I think they're going to dismiss the pre-40s as “They can't play our game. We're the young kids playing the fast-paced game.” So I think I'll be dismissed and I think for the 30s I'll fit right in. But I think Rick is going to have a hard time out here.

**Why do you think that?**

Because he was the voice of season 38 so much that I think people are going to want to take him out just so he doesn't take their airtime.

Chrissy Hofbeck of 'Survivor 50'.

Scott Duncan/CBS

**What's your biggest weakness as a player?**

Endurance running and anything like any holding heavy stuff. I have no muscles. Any of that in challenges is bad. I think I'll do okay around camp. I think I'll get along with people great. And I'm a hard worker around camp, but If we have to go in the jungle and bring back gigantic blocks, they better send me out there with Jonathan or Joe because I'm useless.

**How do you handle the two season 49 players that are kind of an unknown entity?**

Oh, the two 49 players just have to get voted out. I actually heard a slight rumor about the 49 players because of course I did my homework right before I came. When Jeff announces 50, of course I'm scouring the internet to see what information I can get. And what I kind of heard, which may or may not even be true, is that Savannah won the season and she and Rizo ran the post-merge. Now if that's the case, then they just both got to go. Also, Rizo reminds me a lot of Ryan Ulrich.

**Oh really? In what way?**

He looks exactly like Ryan Ulrich. He sits like him. He just looks like him.

***Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for 's free Survivor Weekly newsletter to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox. ***

**Other *Survivor 50 *deep dive player interviews:*****• Survivor 50* star Ozzy Lusth opens up about hitting 'rock bottom of my life'**• *Survivor 50* star Aubry Bracco opens up about the 'freedom when you fall from grace' **• Colby Donaldson reacts to playing *Survivor* for the first time without Jerri**• Angelina Keeley refused to do *Survivor 50* unless they gave her a jacket**• *Survivor 50*'s Coach goes deep on evolving from an 'arrogant ass' into the… Tide Walker?** • *Survivor 50* star Jenna Leiws-Dougherty is 'here to f--- you over in every way, shape, or form'** • Cirie Fields says winning *The Traitors *does not take sting out of *Survivor* loses** • Mike White on how he is handling *Survivor 50 *castmastes angling for *White Lotus* cameos**

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