A familiar debate is back in focus on “Survivor.”
Did the game start before the players ever hit the beach?
Following his elimination from “Survivor 50,” Charlie Davis is raising questions about a potential pre-game connection between Dee Valladares and Rizo Velovic. And whether that relationship may have quietly shaped the vote that sent him home.
A Connection Before the Game Began
Charlie said he learned during the season that Dee and Rizo may have already known each other through a shared connection tied to “Survivor 49.”
“I know Dee had a FaceTime before the season with Rizo, this is what I heard,” Charlie told Page Six in an interview published March 26. “I think [they met] through Soph because they’re both in Miami.”
The “Soph” he referenced is Sophie Baledri, who competed on “Survivor 49” alongside Rizo and is part of the same Miami circle as Dee.
Even without confirmation of a formal alliance, that kind of familiarity can matter. On a show built around trust, any pre-existing relationship can shift early decisions in ways other players cannot see or counter.
Why It Matters in ‘Survivor 50’
Charlie stopped short of accusing Dee and Rizo of coordinating strategy before the game. But he made it clear he believes the connection may have influenced how alliances formed once filming began.
He said the relationship may have “played into” how players aligned within the tribe.
That context becomes more significant when looking at how his elimination unfolded.
During the March 25 episode, Charlie was voted out after Dee and Rizo aligned with Cirie Fields and Kamilla Karthigesu. It was a decisive vote that blindsided him at a critical point in the game.
Charlie had been targeting Rizo in the lead-up to that vote. He believed Rizo’s past decisions in “Survivor 49” revealed something about how he played the game. But the numbers never came together.
‘If I Were Dee…’
Charlie also acknowledged why that kind of connection could be powerful from a strategic standpoint.
“If I were Dee,” he said, “I’d be like, ‘Oh, wow. I have this pre-game relationship with Rizo and no one else has that because no one else would have any way of getting in touch with him or knowing he was on 50.’”
It is a revealing moment. Not just because of what Charlie believes happened, but because it highlights how even a perceived advantage can influence trust in a game where information is everything.
No Lasting Tension
Despite the speculation, Charlie made it clear the situation did not leave lasting resentment.
“Obviously based off what people have seen, they’re like, ‘Oh, man, you must hate this Rizo’s guy’s guts,’” he told Entertainment Weekly. “But I was like, ‘No, I don’t. I don’t hate Rizo.’ I mean, maybe out there I had some island beef with him, but even on the island we shared some fun moments and good moments of connection.”
He added, “So no, I don’t have hatred towards Rizo. But it was definitely funny watching.”
A Familiar ‘Survivor’ Question
Pre-game relationships have long existed in the “Survivor” world. They are not against the rules, but they often spark debate among fans who expect every season to begin on equal footing.
Charlie does not claim the outcome was decided before the game began. But his comments bring the conversation back into focus.
In a season built on returning players, overlapping circles and shared connections are harder to avoid.
And once again, the question lingers.
How much of “Survivor” is played on the island, and how much starts before it?
