Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick’s Survivor 50 run came to an end amid one of the season’s most chaotic Tribal Councils in the show’s history, as Rick Devens exposed key alliances and a Mr. Beast Beware Advantage introduced a high-stakes coin flip that upended the vote. In her exit interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the four-time player breaks down the moment her game unraveled, the conversations that sealed her fate and why she believes the turning point came well before her elimination.
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Let’s start with that Tribal Council. Were you surprised by Devens revealing everyone’s plans? How much did that change things for you in the moment?
When he started going off and outing me and Jonathan, I was like, “Oh, here we go. Now I have to do damage control.” I let Jonathan speak first. And what he said was good, but I’m like, “I got to jump in here.” I cannot throw Jonathan under the bus, even though it was his plan and I’m getting dragged into it. This is just not who I am. When I give you my word, I give you my word. So I try to flip it back on Devens. But then he’s attacking me. Tiffany’s attacking me. Rizo’s attacking me. I’m like, “Oh, this is not going good. Stephenie, remain calm.”
What was your reaction when the Mr. Beast Beware Advantage was finally explained?
I was like, “Shit, I want to flip the coin after that mess.” But Devens wanted to flip the coin. Then you see Cirie ask Jonathan, “Would you let Devens flip the coin?” Jonathan’s like, “No, I wouldn’t because you don’t want him to be safe, but then he could go home.” But we were all in agreement after that mess at camp. We all went back to how it just needs to be Devens or Aubry. There are too many names flying around. Cirie said something like, “Do you want to flip the coin?” I’m like, “Should I?” She goes, “I think you’re safe, but if you want to flip the coin, flip the coin.”
I should have taken that as a hint, but then I got nervous because Jeff was like, “Wow, we didn’t think anybody would volunteer. You have a 50 percent chance of going home.” So I got a little nervous and Devens was doing it. We would’ve had to argue over it or go to rocks. So I was like, “I’ll just let Devens do it.”
How surprised were you with the result of that coin flip?
I was shocked. But I’m a team player and a good sport, so I clapped and I acted as if I was happy for him. See, I am a good actress! There’s going to be a vote and we had a backup plan. If Devens is safe, it’s going to be Aubry, right? Then we of course go to another live tribal and everybody discusses how it’s going to be Aubry. Even Joe tells me it’s going to be Aubry. Well, apparently they were all going for me. It was not going to be Aubry. Then I guess Jonathan finds out at the last minute that it’s me. You either go with the vote or you’re going to be the odd man out. So he went with the vote.
Mr Beast on Survivor 50.
When Mr. Beast showed up with the mystery suitcase after the auction, what were the theories at camp about what it might be?
Somebody might be miraculously safe or might have to go home immediately, or somebody can leave for a whole bunch of money. We thought maybe he was going to offer $1 million to leave right now. We had no idea. Mr. Beast does all these wacky, crazy things.
And it was so bittersweet, because we just got our letters from home, from our loved ones. So we go from this emotional high to right back in the game. Jonathan comes right at me and is like, “We got to make a big move.” I’m like, “What do you mean?” He’s like, “It’s got to be Ozzy.” I’m like, “I don’t know if we have the numbers for that, Jonathan.” So it went from boom, boom, boom. Then I go for a walk for an interview. I come back, he’s like, “It’s you.” They turned the whole vote on you. I’m like, “How’s it on me? What do you mean? What is going on?”Just a disaster. Good old Survivor. Never a dull moment.
Jonathan tells you Ozzy’s coming for you and he tells viewers in a one-on-one that he’s exaggerating. Did you believe him when he told you that?
I did believe he was telling the truth. I confronted Ozzy, and Ozzy admitted he did say that. He said in the interview to really make me believe it, but he didn’t even exaggerate it that much. He’s like, “I just want to tell you something, Ms. Stephenie.” He goes, “Ozzy told me a couple days ago that he doesn’t trust you.” I was like, “What?” I was so taken aback, because I had not given him any reason not to trust me. I had been nothing but there for him the whole game, for weeks now we’d been together. I did blindside him with the Mike White vote, but he blindsided me with the Q vote. We were even. Other than that, I’d never give him any reason not to trust me. So I get Cirie and Ozzy alone and said, “I want to tell you guys something. Ozzy, your name is out there. I did hear people out. I didn’t plan it, but I heard people out. And the reason is because apparently you don’t trust me going around telling people you don’t trust me.” And he goes, “You know what? You’re right. I did say that.”
I go, “Well, why don’t you trust me? I haven’t given you a reason.” And he said, “Well, I just wanted to see if it would get back to me.” I’m like, “Well, it got back to you and I’m telling you the truth and I’m telling you now, Cirie, the truth that I did entertain his name. I don’t think it’s in my best interest to vote somebody like him out or you or even me because I feel like we’re in the same boat. We’re good shields for each other. If one of us goes, I don’t think it’s going to be a good plan. I think one of us would go next then too.”
Then I even said to them, “If you guys turn this on me, I don’t think it’s going to be a good idea for you. I think you could very well become a target next.” They didn’t like that statement, but I was like, “I’m just being honest. I don’t want to take one of you out, so I don’t know why you’d want to take me out.” So we all kind of agreed to go back to the Devens/Aubrey thing. So I did think I was safe at Tribal Council.
Looking back, was that when things started turning?
I guess that’s where it all turned, because then Cirie does this interview and she’s like, “Well, Stephenie was just lying right to my face. I can tell she was lying. She won’t make eye contact. So I guess this is going to be me and Ozzy versus her and Jonathan.” And I never wanted it to be that. I even told Jonathan, “I don’t know if I thought that was such a great plan.” I thought we did need to maybe get Ozzy’s idol out eventually, flush the idol. But it didn’t mean necessarily that night or that it would be Ozzy. So I think that’s where things turned.
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick and Jonathan Young.
You said you don’t blame Jonathan for doing his part. It seems like you understood where Ozzy was coming from. How about Cirie? You’ve played with her before.
We haven’t really talked all season. We don’t text or call each other. But when a reality show comes up, we call each other and we’re like, “Did you get the call for this?” It’s like old friends who haven’t talked in years and become friends again. After 50, we talked a little during premiere week. She tried to explain to me why she told Rizo so quickly about my advantage. I still don’t agree with her doing that just because Rizo from that day never trusted me. I didn’t know even her and Rizo were even that close until I watched the show after the fact. So we kind of agreed to disagree and that I was very loyal to her and she was not loyal to me, and it is what it is and just let’s enjoy 50.
But then we haven’t really spoken. We don’t really talk on the phone. I have absolutely no hard feelings against Cirie at all. She definitely outplayed me. I just wish she would just admit that she was not loyal to me, because she wasn’t. And she may have her reasons , but at the end of the day, she was not loyal to me and I was loyal to her.
As you watch the season, obviously when you’re playing it, you miss a lot of things. What surprised you most as you’ve been watching the episodes?
Just how Cirie really was never on my side. She gave me her word before the game and I really thought she meant it, and I don’t think she did. Which I shouldn’t be surprised by, but I am because I think when she does give her word to some people, she can be loyal until she doesn’t need them anymore. But she really wasn’t loyal to me from the beginning. She actively took out my alliance every chance she could get. So I’m actually proud of myself that I hung in there. Kyle goes, Q goes. It was nonstop, Colby, Genevieve, Coach, Chrissy. My people were just dropping like flies and I’m still hanging in there. I did the best I could with the hand I was dealt.
This is your fourth time playing. Do you feel that if this is your last chance that you’re satisfied, or do you still feel like you have even more to give to this amazing adventure?
I always feel I have more to give. I will never say never. I love a good adventure, but if this was my last time ever playing, I am super happy with the way I went out. I’m super happy with the game I played. I’m super happy with the edit I was given and the person that I was in the game. I think I set a really great example for not only my children, but children all over the world and for women in their mid- 40s who are moms out there and maybe think they may not still have it. You got it, girl. I’ve gotten so many positive messages from so many people thanking me for being such a great role model — men, women, children, everyone. So you know what? If this is the end of my journey with Survivor, I am super happy with it. I’m super proud of myself and I’m very grateful to have been a part of it.
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