Survivor 50's Savannah Louie Reflects on Emotional Exit: 'There Was a Lot More to Those Tears' (Exclusive)
Savannah Louie'sSurvivor 50 run was sadly cut short as the Season 49 winner struggled to break into a tribe already locked into tight alliances. After returning to the game just days after her victory, the Atlanta-based former reporter quickly became a target, particularly after choosing to keep her advantage a secret. Her tribe had also already begun to solidify with Christian Hubicki, Rick Devens, and Emily Flippen forming a core group, and Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth operating as a clear duo. That left Savannah struggling to find her footing as one of the few players without built-in relationships.
Heading into Tribal Council, Savannah attempted to shift the target onto Ozzy, pointing out the threat posed by his obvious alliance with Cirie. There were conversations about making a move, and at one point it seemed like players including Emily might be open to it—but the plan never materialized. Instead, the vote swung back onto Savannah, who ultimately had her torch snuffed for the first time.
In her exit interview with Men’s Journal, Savannah opens up about the emotional toll of her elimination, the strategy behind her decisions, and what viewers didn’t see from her game. She also reflects on the intense experience of playing back-to-back seasons—and why, as she puts it, there was "a lot more to those tears."
Scroll down to read the full interview with Savannah.
Men's Journal: How are you feeling today? I know you got emotional. They clapped for you when you left. Talk to me about that moment.
Savannah Louie: Oh, my God. I mean, when Jeff [Probst] snuffed my torch, it was almost like this wall that I didn't even know had been built just came crashing down, and I just released all of this emotion. And we're talking about the good emotion, we're talking about the sad emotion, we're talking about being a little bit overwhelmed and everything in between. And it was actually kind of a freeing feeling, because I'm like, oh my gosh, now I can kind of just let my guard down. I don't have to worry about someone using something against me or filtering what I say. And so, yeah, I was so sad to go, but there was a lot more to those tears.
Men's Journal: You voted for Ozzy, but there was also talk about Joe [Hunter]. In your mind, how real was that potential plan?
Savannah Louie: You know, it's hard to say. I mean, they were telling me they were doing it, but I don't really know if that's accurate. I do know, like Devens for sure wanted Joe out of the game. Joe was a detriment or a threat to his game in that moment. And I mean, you'll have to see if he continues to be, right? But I think there was definitely real conversation going on. I wish that it had been a little realer. But at the same time, Joe was someone who, even though there had been this conflict and everything, I still felt like I could trust Joe more than I could trust Cirie and Ozzy. And so that's ultimately why I was like, "Hey, let's vote out Ozzy," because no one here is going to vote for Cirie. Everybody wants to keep Cirie in the game. And if we're going to take a shot at Ozzy and Cirie, I guess it's got to be Ozzy.
Men's Journal: Yeah, it seemed like Emily was down for the plan at one point to get out Ozzy.
Savannah Louie: I know, I know. And I wish Emily kind of would have put her foot down. And I mean, maybe she really wanted me out of the game. I don't know, but it did seem like she was really on board to get Ozzy out of the game. I will say, like I'm someone who, in my normal everyday life, if someone's loyal to me, if someone kind of extends an arm to me and pulls me up on a raft, I will do whatever it takes to be loyal to them. I will ride or die for them until the sun comes up. And so, you know, if they would have extended that opportunity to me, I would have been like, "All right, we're all going to the final, like, the Final Four, let's freaking do this thing." So I don't know, maybe keeping Ozzy is the better option, but I don't know, is it?
Men's Journal: Are you bummed to know that you just missed a tribe swap, or do you think you would have still been a target regardless?
Savannah Louie: I think I still would have been a target. It's hard to say, though, because it depends on who is on those tribes. And I think starting off with people who are already so tight—I mean, you had the Christian, Devens, and Emily trio who, right off the bat, that's crazy. You have Ozzy and Cirie, obviously, another very tight duo. But I think about if I had been on another tribe, maybe some of the other configurations, and I feel like people genuinely would have been open to working with me if I'd been in a different mix. So, yeah, bummer. But you know, you gotta deal or play with the cards you're dealt. And unfortunately, I didn't really have the best hand at the time.
Men's Journal: People are talking about your Block a Vote. Some people are saying maybe you should have been honest about that. Talk to me about your decision to lie. And did you have any PTSD from 49 about the Block a Vote that affected your decision?
Savannah Louie: Yeah, I should have. But honestly, as far as that Block a Vote in 49 was concerned, that was almost like a smaller part to my story in 49, and so I wasn't really thinking too much about that. As far as being honest about my advantage, I mean, to be perfectly honest, I probably shouldn't have gone on the journey in the first place if we're going to talk about things I should and shouldn't have done. I thought that if I were to tell one person on my tribe that I had an advantage, that it meant that everybody on the tribe would know. And so coming back from that journey, I knew I either had to keep it completely to myself—maybe I tell one person later if I build up that trust with them—or I would have to tell everybody right away. Because if I tell one person and then they hear it, yeah, everybody else, and I look bad. And I didn't really feel like I was in a position to disclose that information to everybody, especially because I did already feel like I was kind of on the bottom. And so I thought, you know, I'll hedge my bets. I'll keep it to myself. Maybe before the next Tribal Council, I'll build something with someone else to where I feel like I can trust them and tell them about this. But yeah, unfortunately, that did not happen.
Men's Journal: Do you think it actually would have changed anything?
Savannah Louie: No. People who are like, "Oh, Savannah should have told about the—" No. You really think that they would have kept me in the game if I told them I had a Block a Vote? Are you joking? Like, you're dumb.
Men's Journal: Yeah, I don't know if that would have really changed anything. Was there anything that you remember from your experience that you wish they showed that we didn't see?
Savannah Louie: Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me—and they did kind of show this, which I appreciate—but I think that my ability to connect with these people. You hear me kind of mention it in my closing speech, talk about those connections. I connected well with these people on a personal level. Maybe they didn't want to keep me in the game, but I genuinely felt like I was on good terms with everybody. And I had been so vulnerable and open with these people during the game about the difficulties of Survivor, the difficulties that Survivor can put on your normal life. And I really looked to this group of people who had gone through it before as almost like—I don't want to say mentors, because that's so serious—but they gave really good advice for going through all this stuff that I was experiencing, and I was so grateful for that. So I wish that I could have seen a little bit more of my social connections out there, especially because I think people like to hate on my social game at times.
Men's Journal: I mean, when you were getting emotional at Tribal, it seemed like Cirie and some other people were too. So, it felt genuine. What were your thoughts on the idol hiding move by Christian and Rick?
Savannah Louie: I mean, that's why we love Survivor, isn't it? And funny enough, when I applied to be on Survivor, I actually cited Rick Devens as a player and someone who I want to play like, because he does stuff like this. It's so funny to watch as a viewer. It's fun to play with as a Survivor player—unless he's not playing with you, then it kind of sucks. But I loved it. I feel like this is the kind of energy that we need in Survivor. So if there's any future Survivor players watching, bring this to Survivor 51, 52, and so forth.
Men's Journal: Who was your closest ally on the tribe in your mind?
Savannah Louie: I mean, honestly, Jenna [Louis-Dougherty]. That didn't really last too long, unfortunately. But when we first got out to that beach, Jenna and I connected, I think because we're both very strong, confident women who can be maybe aggressive gamers at times. But also, you see people like the Christian, Emily, and Devens trio, they connect so fast. And you have Cirie and Ozzy, who connect very fast. And it leaves kind of the—I don't want to call us leftovers, but it did feel like you were kind of a leftover if you weren't really in those two groups.
Men's Journal: So you knew when she was going, that was either you or her, so you had to write her name down.
Savannah Louie: Exactly. I did not want her to go, but on Day 3, I can't stick out my neck for someone when I feel like I'm the other option. You know what I mean? I don't think Cirie was ever like a real consideration from the other folks on my tribe. They didn't want to write her name down.
Men's Journal: Yeah, I was gonna say, you tried to warn other people about Cirie and Ozzy. It seemed like Emily was on board at one point. But yeah, did you feel like people found that a threat or weren't worried about it?
Savannah Louie: No, dude, they literally thought Cirie was working with them. Ozzy, Christian, and Devens all thought Cirie, I think, was their fourth member of the quad, or whatever you want to call it. And so I think that they just weren't really concerned about her, because they trusted her so much. And it's so interesting in the show so far, because you see Christian as kind of like this decision maker, and it felt like on the island, Christian was pulling a lot of these strings. But it's funny, because you kind of get to see behind the curtain, and you see Cirie kind of whispering these things at camp, and getting Christian, in some senses, to lean one way versus another, and getting Emily and Devens to do that as well. And so I think it's really just incredible gameplay by Cirie. And you know, maybe they can trust Ozzy and Cirie, I don't know, but I'll tell you right now, they could definitely trust me if I was out there. I'm a loyal player.
Men's Journal: I want to go back to Rick and Joe's fight. Who did you side with there? Who are you agreeing with in that situation?
Savannah Louie: I mean, I think Rick handled the situation poorly. If anyone comes to you and says, "Hey, we should be in an alliance," regardless of whether you want to be in the alliance or not, act like it. I thought it was Survivor 101. But I wish he would have been honest with Joe, because I don't think that conversation would have been an issue if he had. But I will say the conversations that happened between the two were a lot more heated and intense in real life and in person being there. And so while I see Joe's perspective 100 percent—because, like, Devens, why are you being weird?—I also feel for Devens in that moment, because the reaction was very tense.
Men's Journal: How did it make the rest of the tribe feel? Was it just awkward?
Savannah Louie: Yeah, it was really awkward. And it's so funny, I feel like I get a rap for being someone who's like, "I'm a straight shooter. I'll tell you what's up." We don't really like intense conflict, and so if I'm calling something intense, you know it was a lot. And I think you felt that same intensity even later in the day we go to Tribal Council. Jeff makes a comment about it. It was just a lot.
Men's Journal: How were you when you got home, Savannah? What was the first thing you did? Talk to me about actually getting home and being like, "Okay, I'm done with Survivor for now."
Savannah Louie: Yeah, dude, honestly coming home—I'll probably get emotional about it now—but it was hard. The nine days I had between 49 and 50, they were so difficult. I was trying to balance my own emotions. My partner was trying to balance his emotions of me leaving again. And so when I actually left to go film 50, we left on terms that were very tense. And so coming back from 50, there was some repair that had to happen. It was hard. Oh, sorry, I get like— Oh no. I had also gained a ton of weight at Ponderosa, which was really hard. I think I ended up gaining like 30 pounds in two months, which was wild. It's tough. It's also hard to when you get back from 49 and people are like, "Oh my god, girl, like you're so snatched, you're looking so good," and then you get back from 50 and you're like, "Oh my gosh, my clothes don't fit. I have nothing that fits. I just hate the way that I look right now." There was a lot of negative self-talk. So getting back from 50 was really hard emotionally. And I want to give CBS a lot of credit here, because they set me up with nutritionists, which they have for everybody, but they also set me up with a specific therapist who helps with eating disorders, and I worked with her all summer long, and it was so hard, but you get through it. And Survivor is a hard game, but I think that the hardest part about the game for me personally was some of the stuff that happened after you get off the island. Yeah, it was really hard.
Men's Journal: I feel like a lot of people might have the same experience, but it's not something people talk about. So thank you for sharing that. Looking back on your Survivor experience, how are you feeling today versus after 49 when you still knew you had 50 to go? Now that you're done for now, how do you feel?
Savannah Louie: I feel so happy. And I know that's crazy, because I've been a little emotional and stuff, but I feel so happy. I feel like today I can finally just reflect and celebrate everything that's happened. And that includes being a third boot, which I don't like, but it also includes being a winner, and it includes all the friendships that I've made, and it includes these crazy experiences and adventure that I've gotten to live, and this childhood dream that I've been able to fill—a once in a lifetime opportunity that I've been able to do twice in a year. And so I just feel so happy. And I feel like now I'm also excited, because Season 50—I'm not just saying this—it's gonna be so freaking fun, and now I get to enjoy it as a fan. I haven't enjoyed Survivor as a fan in a while, so I'm so excited to just watch it with the world and see everything happen.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.