Survivor: Contestants Who Probably Regret Doing The Show

Most Survivor contestants say that the show has changed their lives, but some series alums think that the tough reality competition didn’t change them for the better. Over 41 seasons of the show, hundreds of contestants have tried to outlast one another, so it makes sense that certain players wish they hadn’t participated in the first place. Here is everything to know about contestants who likely regret playing this iconic and televised game.

Survivor follows castaways who compete in challenges and build alliances. All want to earn the title of Sole Survivor and win one million dollars. The premise of the show has led to some of the most dramatic moments in reality TV history, from terrifying medical emergencies to epic romances and “blindside” eliminations. While some contestants can’t get enough of Survivor and have played up to five different seasons, others would rather leave the grueling competition in the past.

Dan Spilo

Dan competed on Survivor: Island of the Idols, also known as season 39. He is a talent manager from Los Angeles who made it all the way to the final six before he was removed from the show. Dan from Survivor was accused of inappropriate touching by fellow player Kellee Kim early on in the game. However, it was not until another complaint from Kellee (and an off-camera incident with a member of the production crew) that Dan was forced to leave the show.

When he was sent home, it was the first ejection of a player in Survivor history, not including mandatory medical emergency evacuations. After Dan left Survivor due to his misconduct, he faced a lot of hate and criticism from fans of the show. He reported having less luck in his business and said the situation had embarrassed his wife of over two decades, and their two sons. Since Dan left the show with nothing but a tainted reputation, he likely regrets ever signing up to play Survivor.

Brandon Hantz

Brandon, the nephew of notorious Survivor villain Russell Hantz, struggled with the secret that he was a Hantz when he first played Survivor. He was on Survivor: South Pacific (season 23) and Survivor: Caramoan (season 26). Brandon seemed pained while playing Survivor the first time around, as he was struggling with playing an honest game and reversing the Hantz legacy.

In his second season, Brandon was known for his meltdown, where he threw out his tribe’s entire rice supply. When the time came for the immunity challenge, his tribe was going to forfeit to vote him out. Brandon then had one of the most notorious outbursts in the show’s history, where he was so hostile that he could not even stand next to his tribe. Fans and his fellow contestants alike saw that playing Survivor was not good for Brandon’s mental health.

Jeff Varner

In one of the craziest Tribal Councils in Survivor history, Jeff Varner outed his fellow contestant Zeke Smith when he was at risk of going home. After saying Zeke was being deceptive for not revealing that he is a transgender person to his tribe members, Varner tried to backtrack and apologize. The cast turned against him and he was sent home after a unanimous vote. He revealed that he has gotten death threats since being on the show, and he is, without question, one of the most hated Survivor players. Varner lost his job because of his actions on the show, and attended therapy sessions after he left.

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