The Shocking Exit Stories: Unforgettable 'Survivor' Castaways Who Chose to Abandon the Game
Over the years, numerous 'Survivor' contestants have voluntarily left the game, citing diverse reasons like medical emergencies or conflicts with other castaways Explore a list of these memorable departures, from Osten Taylor to Hannah Rose Subscribe now for more captivating articles!
Survivor has been challenging its contestants since it premiered in 2000. Over the years, a few participants have chosen to leave the competition on their own accord. Despite various reasons like health issues or conflicts with fellow castaways, host Jeff Probst has never hidden his disdain for those who surrender without putting in the effort.
When NaOnka Mixon and Kelly Shinn made the decision to quit during the same episode in season 21 of 2010, Jeff informed them that their torches would be left at Tribal Council. This symbolic act served as a constant reminder to the pair when they would later return as part of the jury, reflecting on the choices they had made to leave the game prematurely.
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Scroll through to see every Survivor contestant who has quit the game — and why:
Credit: YouTube; CBS (3)
Every 'Survivor' Castaway Who Voluntarily Walked Away From the Game: From Osten Taylor to Hannah Rose
Survivor has been challenging its contestants to their maximum potential ever since the CBS reality show debuted in 2000. Consequently, a few castaways have made the choice to withdraw from the competition on their own accord.
Whether it be due to health issues or conflicts with fellow cast members, contestants have quit for various reasons. However, host Jeff Probst has consistently expressed his disapproval towards those who choose to surrender.
Scroll through to discover every Survivor contestant who has left the game voluntarily and the reasons behind their decisions.
Credit: YouTube
Osten Taylor (Season 7)
Osten asked his tribe to vote him out during a 2003 Tribal Council, citing the physical strain the game had taken on his body.
Jeff informed him that the move appeared to be a resignation, and Osten responded by saying, "Interpret it however you like. If you want to call it quitting, if you want to call it stopping. Yes, I am quitting. My well-being is more valuable to me than a million dollars, I suppose."
Following his departure, Osten asserted during an interview with The Boston Herald that he had contracted several staph infections and had lost 40 pounds while participating in the show, ultimately leading to his choice to quit.
Credit: YouTube
Jenna Morasca (Season 8)
In 2004, Jenna, along with three other Survivor winners, participated in the All-Stars season. Despite being a strong contender, on Day 9, Jenna felt an overwhelming sense that her mother, who was bravely fighting cancer, required her presence. Consequently, she made the selfless decision to exit the game prematurely.
Jenna's intuition was validated when a postscript on her concluding episode stated: "In a rush, Jenna hurried to be by her mother's side. Sadly, eight days later, her mother succumbed to her lengthy struggle against cancer."
Credit: YouTube
Susan Hawk (Season 8)
During a Day 13 Immunity Challenge, Richard Hatch made physical contact with Susan while he was unclothed. On Day 17, Jeff brought up the incident following Richard's elimination during the previous night's Tribal Council. Susan voiced her opposition and criticized Jeff for inquiring if Richard had acted inappropriately towards her.
"It went beyond acceptable boundaries and he overstepped. ... You did not witness it directly as he had his back turned to you, and he is too large to have a clear view. I felt violated, humiliated, dehumanized, and completely drained, Jeff. It was not a mere 'sort of, Jeff'," she expressed before deciding to quit the game, explaining that she could not continue under these circumstances.
Richard, the original champion of Survivor, did not make a comeback for the 2020 season titled Survivor: Winners at War. During an interview with We before the season's premiere, Jeff discussed Richard's absence, stating, "The show's current direction and the representation of these 20 winners were the primary factors we considered. In that regard, we felt that Richard did not align with the equation."
Credit: YouTube
Janu Tornell (Season 10)
Janu made history in the 2005 season as the inaugural contestant to voluntarily leave the game while still securing a spot on the jury panel.
"I reached a crossroads where I felt torn between my desire to leave and my commitment to stay involved as a jury member. The internal struggle with the label 'quitter' was constant," Janu shared with the Associated Press upon her unexpected departure. "Nevertheless, I made the decision. I relinquished my torch and have no regrets whatsoever."
Ultimately, her decision to quit came down to being on the outs with her tribe and feeling like she didn’t have a path forward in the game.
Credit: YouTube
Gary Stritesky (Season 14)
During his time on Survivor in 2007, Gary faced multiple health challenges. At one point, he experienced intense chest pain, leading him to suspect a cracked rib. Additionally, he suffered from an allergic reaction caused by bug bites. Although he received medical clearance to continue participating in the game, Gary ultimately decided to prioritize his well-being and leave. Reflecting on his experience, Gary shared, "I had so many bug bites that caused an allergic reaction, resulting in breathlessness and nausea. It was a completely new and overwhelming sensation for me, making it difficult to concentrate or even stand upright."
Credit: YouTube
Kathy Sleckman (Season 16)
Kathy reached her breaking point on Day 19, overcome with emotion as she expressed her desire to quit the game. She explained that she had lost touch with her family and couldn't connect to them anymore. During the 2008 episode, Jeff demonstrated compassion towards her, acknowledging that this adventure held varying significance for each individual. He commended Kathy for giving it her all, recognizing her efforts.
After leaving the show, Kathy disclosed that she had abruptly stopped taking Zoloft before participating in Survivor. She had been prescribed the medication for postpartum depression.
During her time on the island, Kathy's thoughts took a dark turn. She confessed to the New York Post in 2016, "I started imagining that my husband was already seeing someone else, that my daughter would despise me... even envisioning her becoming involved in drugs." She even considered severing her pinky finger with a machete in hopes of being medically removed from the competition.
Credit: YouTube
NaOnka Mixon (Season 21)
On Day 28 of her 2010 season, NaOnka decided to express her intention to quit, citing her annoyance with the relentless rain in Nicaragua. Navigating his frustration, Jeff openly displayed his discontent towards NaOnka and her fellow castaway Kelly, who also chose to quit on that very same day.
“You guys are quitters,” he said, asking them what they thought should be done with their torches. Their torches were ultimately kept at Tribal Council.
Credit: YouTube
Kelly Shinn (Season 21)
Kelly earned the nickname "Purple Kelly" because of her distinctive purple hair and to differentiate her from another contestant named Kelly Bruno, who was eliminated early in the season. When NaOnka announced her intention to quit the game, "Purple Kelly" also expressed her desire to leave. Despite receiving minimal airtime on her season, her term "purple edit" is often used to describe contestants who are virtually unseen throughout their time on the show.
Credit: YouTube
Dana Lambert (Season 25)
During her 2012 season, Dana experienced immense discomfort in her stomach accompanied by nausea on Day 12. Although she received medical approval to continue, she made the difficult choice to withdraw from the game in order to prevent her symptoms from exacerbating.
Dana explained to The Hollywood Reporter why she chose to quit, saying, "I attempted to mentally compel myself to get better, but unfortunately, it didn't pan out. After enduring twelve consecutive days of physical and mental strain, my body reached its breaking point. It was essentially rebelling against me."
Following her departure from Survivor, she sought medical attention at a hospital where healthcare professionals informed her that she was suffering from dehydration.
Credit: YouTube
Colton Cumbie (Season 27)
In the year 2013, Colton was among ten players who were compelled to compete alongside their dear ones in the game. Unfortunately, he found himself isolated from the rest of the returning contestants right from the start, while simultaneously yearning for the presence of his then-fiancé, Caleb Bankston, who happened to be part of the rival tribe.
He made known his decision to resign on Day 7, an act that Jeff labeled as "extremely self-centered."
The host went on: "Many individuals enjoy observing adventures, but it does not automatically imply that they ought to participate actively, and I am now certain that Colton is the person who should have remained seated on the couch."
Caleb, tears streaming down his face, disregarded any comments and walked towards Caleb for a comforting embrace. Following the airing of the season, a year later, tragedy struck as Caleb, aged 26, lost his life in Birmingham, Alabama, due to a train derailment where he was employed. He and Colton had plans to get married later in the year.
Credit: YouTube
Lindsey Ogle (Season 28)
Following a fiery confrontation with her fellow castaway Trish Hegarty in the 2014 season, Lindsey expressed her concern to Jeff about the possibility of resorting to physical aggression against Trish.
Not wanting her daughter to see her behave badly on television, she chose to leave the game without saying a word to her tribe.
Credit: YouTube
Julie McGee (Season 29)
In the 2014 season, Julie entered the competition alongside her boyfriend, John Rocker. However, John was eliminated early on, leaving Julie to compete against other pairs who had existing relationships outside of the game.
On Day 18, Julie confided in Jeff, expressing the added challenge of being surrounded by couples and family members. She admitted her inclination to quit, highlighting that she and John had never been apart for more than four days before.
Credit: YouTube
Bi Nguyen (Season 37)
Bi entered the match already nursing an MCL injury, which was exacerbated during a particularly grueling challenge. Recognizing the potential consequences to her future as an MMA athlete, she made the tough decision to withdraw on Day 10 of the 2018 season.
Credit: YouTube
Keith Sowell (Season 38)
Keith faced an early exit in his 2018 season, being voted out second. However, he found himself on a separate island, known as the “Edge of Extinction”, along with the other eliminated players. This unique twist allowed the castaways to stay and await an opportunity to re-enter the game. Interestingly, they were also given the choice to depart at any time by simply raising a white sail.Keith held out until Day 17, when he lost the first challenge to reenter the game. At that point, he decided to raise the white sail and go home.
Credit: YouTube
Wendy Diaz (Season 38)
Wendy was also sent to the “Edge of Extinction” island pre-merge. She also lost the first challenge to reenter on Day 17 and decided to leave the game along with Keith.
Credit: YouTube
Sandra Diaz-Twine (Season 40)
The "Edge of Extinction" twist made a comeback in Survivor: Winners at War, a season that assembled a group of twenty previous winners.
Sandra, who had already triumphed in Survivor twice, made the decision to depart from the 2020 season following her elimination, rather than enduring isolation indefinitely.
At her final Tribal Council, Sandra explained to the rest of the cast that she had nothing further to prove and raised the white sail immediately.
Credit: YouTube
Matthew Grinstead-Mayle (Season 44)
Mathew endured the agony of dislocating his shoulder on the second day of his 2022 season, when he took a tumble from a rock. Despite his determination, the persistent pain in his shoulder became insurmountable. On the eleventh day, the medical team evaluated his condition and presented him with the option to either continue or withdraw. After careful consideration, Matthew resolved to exit the game.
Credit: YouTube
Hannah Rose (Season 45)
Hannah's departure in 2023 set a new record as the earliest voluntary exit on Survivor. Her enthusiasm for the game waned rapidly, and she found it challenging to adjust to island life. Additionally, she grappled with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. By Day 3, she openly expressed her desire to quit to her tribe, urging them to vote her out.
Jeff characterized the move as "a clear resignation" in an interview with Entertainment Weekly following the season premiere.
He elaborated: "In my opinion, Hannah was giving her tribe a fair warning that if they didn't vote her out or allow her to leave immediately, the tribe of six would quickly dwindle to four because she had no intention of staying. ... I immediately called [casting director] Jesse Tanenbaum and Dr. Liza, our head psychologist, to inform them that we made an error in our assessment of Hannah. She should not have been selected for the show."
