‘Survivor 49’ winner Savannah Louie reacts to ‘mean girl’ accusations: ‘I’d love to hear examples’

‘Survivor 49’ winner Savannah Louie reacts to ‘mean girl’ accusations: ‘I’d love to hear examples’

I’ve watched the show since like forever and I played like the player I would want to watch. I loved old school Survivor. People were honestly so unhinged and I feel like I honestly made like they made me look very tame. But if I could bring a little bit of that kind of energy to my season, I’m all here for it. I’ll bring it. >> Okay. So, you think they made you look tame? You felt like your edit was a little like watered down, would you say? I mean I mean compared to like the old school players like you know if you if you watch like 20 years ago people were >> Karan for example someone like yeah >> I will say I think they did a really great job with my edit you see someone out there who has a lot of strengths but you also see someone out there who is totally flawed and I am that person you know I’m I’m not I didn’t play a pretty game by any means right um but that [clears throat] being said the fact that editing and production could show me as a a multi-dimensional winner. I really appreciated that. And I love that people love me in the season. I also kind of like that people didn’t love me. You know what I mean? I think it shows that I I’m a I’m a human being. Most people aren’t loved by everybody and that’s okay. >> And that’s reality TV for you. And you can only show so much about of one human on a TV show. And so, yeah, you had mixed reception from people, but I think that that just speaks to the impact you made on the show. So, >> thank you so much. >> Of course. How were you feeling during Final Tribal and then ultimately seeing the five votes that you got? Did you anticipate those five votes coming your way? >> Oh my gosh. So, I’ll be real. I entered Final Tribal pretty confident and I you’ve seen my gameplay. I’m a confident person by nature. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy because I figured Sofh and Sage, they both played incredible games and they probably would both get votes at the end just because of their relationships with some of those jury members and their fantastic games as well. Um, that being said, as tribal council was going on, I’m sitting next to Sofh in particular, who is killing it, every answer that she has is flawless. She’s making the jury laugh. They’re connecting with her. And in real time, I’m like, “Oh my god, I feel like I I have this win and it’s slipping away. It’s slipping through my fingers because she’s just so personable. If I was voting, I would want to vote for her.” You know what I mean? And so, my confidence definitely slipped during during the tribal. But when the votes were read and I had five, like I was a little bit shocked that that I actually had pulled out that many and I was so grateful in that moment and I I really do think I was shocked more than anything. [laughter] >> Yeah, Christina’s question obviously, you know, I’m it’s made a splash on social media. I’m assuming it made quite an impact when you guys were sitting there in the moment. Um, did that take you just completely offguard and do you regret the answer that you ultimately gave? Oh my gosh, Christina was >> crazy for asking that in the best possible way. I was not happy when she asked me that out there. I was like, “Oh my gosh, my my tribal is now really going to go downhill after this.” Um, but as a fan of the show, I love that energy. That is what we need more of to be honest. And you’ve seen me play. I love people who are who are bold and who are not going to let others just walk easy to the finish line. Like I kind of like that she made me work for it. And as far as my answer goes, you know, I I wish I would have started along the jury earlier telling more about like what I knew about them. Like, you know, for example, when I got to MC, I’m like, MC, I don’t know your family members, but MC and I had had impactful conversations, at least to me, when we were out there that I feel like I could have brought up in that moment. And you see me kind of make that connection with Alex, for example. I start talking about work, and I I went a little bit more into work than what you’re shown on on the show. Um, and I do the same with other members in the jury. But I think for me, I’m really bad with names. When I’m operating on a full stomach and a full night of sleep, put me out on Survivor, I’m not even going to remember my own mother’s name. So, that was a hard question, but I have so much respect for Christina for asking it. >> I just talked to her right before we got on and she did say she didn’t love you out there on the island, but she did she did call you a dear friend now, so she had good things to say about you. I just want to say that she >> Yeah, she’s she’s the best. She’s been such a delight and I look at her, we have so many strong women on our season and Christina especially like just her strength throughout. It was incredible to watch and I’ve loved getting to know her outside of the show. >> But you know obviously when the show was going on a couple people didn’t always take a liking to you, Christina being one of them and then that mean girl quote unquote narrative kind of started both out there and online. How has it been like for you handling that just both as a player but also watching it back? >> Absolutely. You know, I think one thing when you hear criticism or maybe shade from someone, if it’s just one person, you take it with a grain of salt. But if multiple people are saying it, I do think that you should kind of evaluate, is there truth to it? Why are so many people saying the same thing, right? Um, so when everything was airing, obviously it was hard to hear and I got kind of in my head about it. And at that point, you know, I have a really great community of friends and family who love me and are not afraid to tell me when I am wrong or out of line. And I had conversations with so many people who know me in real life um about my behavior, not on the show, but just in real life. And honestly, all of them said I was not a mean girl. So, I took a lot of solace in that. And I think that, you know, I don’t want to discredit my my castmates experience with me on the show. I don’t want to say that, oh, they’re wrong or anything like that, but I know my perspective of myself and I know people who know me really well. And, you know, if if people think I’m mean, that’s unfortunate. I would love to hear um examples of that. You know, especially like I think a lot of the behavior I displayed may have been abrasive at times or bold at sometimes or aggressive in terms of the game at times, but it wasn’t necessarily mean. You know what I mean? Like, there was no ill intent. I’m not trying to make anyone feel small or like they’re not worthy or not important. Um, I just played like a honestly insane person and I don’t think that’s mean. So, that’s just my perspective, but everybody is honestly welcome to to feel however they feel. >> Well, my perspective is you were not a mean girl and you played hard, but you know, some people have other thoughts, but that’s fine. >> We’ll leave it at that, right? Um, how was it just playing the the almost the entire well the entire game with Rizzo and almost the entire game at Sofh and just as a trio and you guys made such a comeback. I mean, what was it that kept you three so tight and so successful in the game? >> You know, I loved them like right when I met them. Both of them just genuinely felt like people I could connect with in my real life. You hear me talk about Soflex like she’s one of my best friends from home. But with Rizzo, I have a little brother who is the same age. They have so many similar mannerisms. They speak the same way. They also both have that same youthful, fun energy that just brightens up any room. And so I had my best friend and I had my brother basically on the island with me. And I knew I wanted to work with them. But it wasn’t until the Nate blind side where all of us were at the bottom. And I felt like no one really on the island other than those two wanted to work with me. And you know that changed over time. I was able to build relationships that really were meaningful both in the game and out. But at the time I was like, I’ll do anything now for Rizzo and soap. We’ve all been blindsided. I don’t care if it will be hard to sit next to them at the finals. I don’t want to go to the end with anyone else. So that was my main motivator. >> Were you surprised ultimately that Sofh had said she wanted to take you out at final five? I mean, she told me just earlier that if you didn’t win immunity, you were going to go home. Are you surprised that ultimately, at least from Sof’s perspective, she was not going to stick with you to the end? >> Yes. And you see that surprise come out in the final four when she won’t have a a discussion with us about um who she’s sending to fire. I was surprised and you know viewers weren’t because they see that confessional, but for me Sofa was someone who I wanted to sit with at the end, not because I necessarily thought she would be easy to beat, but because I like genuinely like loved her so much and I wanted to finish this game with her. Um, I told someone earlier like when she wasn’t having that conversation with me, it was there’s like the down button. That’s so funny. >> You’re like, you know, so look at that because that’s how you felt about her trying to turn on you, right? >> Well, I I told someone earlier, I’m like, it felt almost like a breakup with a boyfriend, you know? It’s like you get rejected. It’s like you’re you feel like, oh, but I I still want to work with you. I still want to go far with you. And that person’s just like, no, like you need to go home. Um, so I felt like I was being broken up within that moment and I felt so sad and you know kind of a little bit foolish to be honest because I felt like wow I I thought that she loved me and she wanted to go to the end with me but that wasn’t the case. At the same time I love Sofh. I respect her on so many levels. One of the reasons I love her and loved playing with her is because she’s such an incredible gamer. She’s cutthroat and she’s just a freaking badass. And so in that moment I was hurt but overall like that’s one of the many many reasons why I love her. I told her I would love to see her play again and she, you know, said the same. She feels a little left out. I mean, that’s not that’s not your fault. That’s a CBS decision about 50, but she feels a little left out. She needs to play again. She was such an incredible player and you see her social game, obviously, but I think that a lot of the strategy um from Sofh throughout the season, like there was more to that um that I wish would have been shown. She’s just an incredible player on so many different levels. And when she plays again, Lord willing, CBS willing, Eric, you and I are going to have a watch party and be cheering for her the whole time. >> Let’s do it. Let’s do it. Listen, obviously we know the cat’s out of the bag, so to speak. You and Rizza are on 50. Obviously, there’s only so much you guys can say, but can you explain just the moment that you were asked because I believe it happened shortly after, you know, the finale night, right? On day. >> It was the day. Yeah, it was the day after the finale. So, hours before we were about to leave back to the US and production calls me into a room and I thought initially, I don’t know why I thought this, I thought they were going to have my parents on the phone for some reason. So, I walk in and I see Jeff’s face on a Zoom call on a computer >> and when he told me about 50, I’m like, “Oh my gosh, like this man is pranking me.” Like, what in the world? Like, there’s no way. Like, it seemed too big to be true. I grew up watching the show and even though the names hadn’t been released for 50 yet, there had been rumblings about who might be on and to be told I was even in consideration with some of these people, it was just mindblowing. Um, as a player, sure, but like as a fan, you know, like I would feel a lot more comfortable now like with everybody seeing my game, I would feel I think I would feel a lot more valid in going out there and everything. um versus, you know, you just finished 49, you’re still processing that win, and these people haven’t even seen you. It’s crazy. But it was such an incredible feeling. And I’m I’m so glad that I did it and had the opportunity to do it, too. >> Again, obviously, I know you can’t say much, but was it difficult to be the backtoback I mean, one of two backto-back people, and these people having no idea who you are? Is that is that tough? >> Absolutely. And I mean, no matter what, like there’s always going to be benefits and um non-benefits, >> cons [laughter] to coming back as someone who uh is a little bit unknown. I will say survivor is inherently this game of uncertainty. And so when I went into 50, I was in the mindset of okay, like I am going to have a target on my back and so is Rizzo. Just we are so uncertain. People don’t know us. So, our connections at the very beginning of the game are going to be crucial for our success down the line. >> Good tease there. Good tease there. And out of everyone, who did you kind of fang girl over the most? Who were you like, “Oh my god, that’s that person. I can’t believe I’m playing this game with them.” >> I’ll give you two. I’ll give you a man and a woman. Um, coach. Coach, first of all, he is iconic on so many levels. And when I saw he was going to be out there, I was freaking out. I I was hoping he would be out there. So, that was very cool. And then just to make this a full circle moment, before 49 even started, I spoke about um my my favorite winners of all time and who I would want to play like. And D from 45 was the person who D and Kim Bradlin were the people I said I wanted to play like. But seeing D out there was just so surreal. Um I loved her gameplay. And while it was very cool to see her, um as a fan, as a player, it’s almost like, oh my gosh, I’m so intimidated because I wanted to be like you and now I’m playing against you. You know what I mean? >> D is a fantastic winner. I’m so I’m excited for all the choices, but she I was really excited for because I think she’s just a fantastic winner and that’s such a great season and but I I kind of see shades of you in her and vice versa. Do you think that’s a correct, you know, comparison? Like I see part of you in each other a little bit. >> I do. I do agree and I think it comes down to being a strong confident woman who might who isn’t afraid to to play. Seriously. Um, and that’s not a knock to, you know, other women who play or anything like that, but I think D and I also, we kind of fall into a similar archetype of people who are just very bold and just badass women, fierce physical competitors. Um, we take off a lot of those same boxes, so to speak. And so, yeah, it’s it’s a great stereotype or comparison to Mick. Like, I will gladly be compared to D any day of the week.

Savannah Louie isn’t apologizing for being a strong woman on “Survivor.”

After winning “Survivor 49” Wednesday night, the 31-year-old former news reporter exclusively spoke to The Post about being labeled a “mean girl” by some of her fellow castaways and the fans for how she played the game.

“When you hear a criticism or maybe shade from someone, if it’s just one person, you take it with a grain of salt,” Louie said. “But if multiple people are saying it, I do think that you should kind of evaluate. Is there a truth to it? Why are so many people saying the same thing? Right? So when everything was airing, obviously it was hard to hear and I got kind of in my head about it.”

Read more at https://nypost.com/2025/12/18/entertainment/survivor-49-winner-savannah-louie-reacts-to-mean-girl-accusations/

#survivor49 #savannahlouie

Page Six is your source for celebrity news, gossip, entertainment, pop culture, photos, video and more.

Catch the latest news and gossip here:
https://pagesix.com/
Follow us on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pagesix/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/PageSix
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/pagesix/

Check out We Hear, our Page Six podcast!

And Page Six Style has the latest news on celebrity style including fashion trends, red carpet photos, and beauty tips.

Catch the latest news here: https://pagesix.com/style/
Follow us on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pagesix/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/PageSix