“Survivor” contestant Rizo Velovic has revealed exactly how he feels about returning to the show for the special anniversary season 50 edition of the show next year. The season 49 player was one of the most influential players in the most recent instalment of the series but fell just short at the end but will have the chance to redeem himself when he comes back in 2026.
Rizo Velovic Reveals How He Reacted After Finding Out He Would Be Returning
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in an interview following the finale to season 49, Velovic dished the details about how he was told he was being given the opportunity to return to “Survivor.” He also provided some insight into his reaction and how he found out Savannah would be joining him.
When asked about whether he told Savannah that he would be back or she announced the news to him first, Velovic explained that it was a complicated story. He said, “Okay, I’ll tell the funny story. So, Jeff, don’t get mad at this, but the way that this all happened on Ponderosa was the night after the 49 finale wrapped, they take us into a room or whatever. I was the first one to go in the room.”
He continued, “I get in the room, Jeff’s there on a Zoom, and granted, I thought Jeff just checks up on all the people after the Finale. So I’m like, ‘Jeff, what’s going on, man? It’s so good to see you.’ He just called me RizGod two days ago. And then Jeff does his speech about how ‘Survivor 50’ is so great and we want you on. And I’m like, ‘Holy [expletive] This is cinema! Like, yes, I’m on!’
Rizo Velovic Explains How Savannah Louie Told She Was in ‘Survivor 50’
In the same interview, Velovic went on to explain how he also found out that Savannah Louie would also be appearing on the upcoming show.
He recalled, “And then five minutes later, Savannah does it, goes in that same room. and we’re eating in Ponderosa and Savannah pulls me to the side and she’s like, ‘Congratulations.’ And I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ She’s like, ‘I know.’ And I was like, ‘Know what?’ She’s like, ‘They asked me too.’”
Velovic also expressed his shock at Savannah being chosen to come back for the 50th season, as he knew that the series has never had a winning contestant return for the very next season of the show.
“And I’m trying to play this off,” he explained. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ She’s like, ‘Survivor 50!’ I was like, ‘What? They asked you?’” “It was so funny ’cause she was so offended. She’s like, ‘Why wouldn’t they? What? Do you not think I deserve it?’ I was like, ‘No, Savannah. They just never asked a winner to come back-to-back in Survivor history. I’m [expletive] ecstatic. I’m excited. No one’s going to know what we did. This is great.’”
He doesn’t deserve to be on Survivor 50. He’s not a great player and didn’t to anything special
He held onto an idol all season. That’s pretty special. Worth being on 50? No, but it is special.