Survivor fans who believe in omens might want to think twice before drafting season 49 castaway Jeremiah Ing to their fantasy team.
Survivor players are often asked in their pregame press availability why they think they are going to win their season, and Jeremiah, 39, told a terrifying story that includes a cameo from a former player who was unceremoniously voted out on her season.
“I’m going to win Survivor 49 because the day that I was flying out, I got hit by a car,” he told Entertainment Weekly in a story published Friday, August 22. “And I asked the universe to give me a sign, and Venus from season 46 walked right past me.”
“I didn’t say anything because of my NDA and I wanted to say so much to her, and she looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes and I’m like,’I’m going to message you one day, but give me a little bit of time,’” he added.
Venus Vafa was one of a record five players on Survivor 46 to be voted out despite having a hidden immunity idol in her possession. She explained to Entertainment Weekly at the time that she was hoping that not using her idol would show the strength of her social game.
“I like to take big risks, and I knew it was a risk,” Venus, 28, said. “But it was one that I thought would be the determining factor of my endgame.”
As for Jeremiah, being hit by a car in front of a former Survivor player might not factor much into strategy, but his comment to Venus after-the-fact at least shows a level of poise amid adversity — an important quality in a Survivor contestant.
But in order for him to get to the end, he will have to outwit, outplay and outlast 17 other competitors. CBS released its full cast list on Wednesday, August 20, and the group includes everything from a rocket scientist to an airport ramp agent.
The cast also includes two alternates who flew out to Fiji not expecting to ultimately be on the show. Jason Treul and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu earned their spots on the cast when two others were sent home before filming began for breaking Survivor rules.
“Survivor has rules and standards, and if a player crosses that line, we act. It’s one of the reasons we bring alternates, is to have our own insurance,” host Jeff Probst told Entertainment Weekly in a story published Thursday, August 21. “Just because we tell you you’re on the show — until the game begins, you’re not on the show.”
Survivor 49 premieres on CBS Wednesday, September 24, at 8 p.m. ET.
