In a social media post shared on May 22 by “Survivor” star Jenna Lewis Dougherty, it was revealed that she shared a finale dressing room with an unexpected member of the season 50 cast – Benjamin “Coach” Wade. Dougherty didn’t get to spend as much time with other players during the season, due to being voted off during the first tribal council.
During the “Survivor” season 50 live finale, most of the season’s players returned to celebrate with their fellow tribemates and see who would earn the title of “Sole Survivor.” Dougherty was among the non-jury players to participate in the live show special.
In an Instagram post following the live show event, Dougherty shared a video clip of her dressing room, admitting that she was assigned to a space alongside Wade. The video showed Wade sitting on a sofa in the room, smiling. The caption read, “Coach and I were assigned dressing room together…odd, yes. But amazing, also yes!!”
Jenna Lewis Dougherty and “Coach” Wade Bond During Finale
The Instagram post goes on to detail Dougherty’s interaction with Coach in the shared space. She stated, “Coach and I were sharing a dressing room in green room at Survivor 50 finale, and I had such a good time chatting with him! Gotta remember to thank Jeff for all the unexpected loveliness that comes from all of these collective moments!”
The video gives a deeper dive into the interaction between Wade and Dougherty. It begins with Doughtery asking, “Alright Coach, why are you and I paired together?!”
Wade responds, “I actually do not understand this. I don’t know if they want us to get dressed together or if it’s going to be one at a time. I have no idea.”
Dougherty added, “I am enjoying our time together.” Wade followed up with, “I am, too, actually.” Doughtery then goes on to compliment Wade’s shoes for the finale.
Dougherty Not Shocked By One Dressing Room Pair-Up
In a second video uploaded to Instagram by Dougherty while backstage, she recorded the other dressing room assignments. While she passed over most of the rooms, she paused to laugh at the room that was assigned to Christian Hubicki and Rick Devens. The pair shared a tight alliance during “Survivor” season 50, often referring to their relationship as a “Survivor” bromance.
Hubicki was voted off during Episode 9, when a game-altering challenge went wrong. Hubicki was sent to exile island, where he hoped to hide like previous stranded players from that evening’s vote. Instead, the exhausted season 50 player found himself racing to complete a puzzle in direct sunlight on a barge. He failed to beat the clock and was forced to cast a vote against himself at tribal council.
Following his departure, Devens attempted to make alliances with other remaining characters, but none were as close to him as Hubicki.
Dougherty commented that spending extra time with Wade was a special opportunity, and while “odd,” she was glad to have the chance to talk with the self-proclaimed “dragonslayer.”
