“Survivor 50” star Benjamin “Coach” Wade shut down the online narrative that he was in the “MAGA alliance.”
“I think it’s funny. I mean, people are always gonna grasp at straws,” Wade exclusively told Page Six after he was voted off on Wednesday’s episode.
To further distance himself from Donald Trump’s fanbase, Wade, 54, claimed that he voted for himself in the 2024 presidential election.
“I wrote in my name in the last election. I put Coach Ben Wade and checked the box for myself,” he told us.
“Survivor 50” star Benjamin “Coach” Wade told Page Six that fans are “grasping at straws” by saying that he was in the “MAGA alliance.” Page Six
Wade (seen above in his interview with Page Six) told us that he voted for himself in the 2024 presidential election instead of Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. Page Six
“Do I think Trump’s doing a great job with our country? Hell no,” Wade also said.
The four-time “Survivor” player reiterated that he doesn’t co-sign the “MAGA alliance” claims.
“So, people can say what they want to,” he stated. “I don’t pay attention to that.”
Wade (seen above on “Survivor 50”) said: “I put Coach Ben Wade and checked the box for myself.” Robert Voets/CBS
Wade (pictured above getting his torch snuffed by Jeff Probst) added: “People can say what they want to.” Robert Voets/CBS
On the show, Wade was aligned with Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Jonathan Young, Chrissy Hofbeck and Joe Hunter.
The members of the group, also dubbed the “Zoom alliance” by fans and other contestants, have been accused of plotting in an alleged phone call before Season 50.
But Wade told Page Six he thinks it’s “sad” that the pregame alliance chatter has become “a big deal.”
“In a returning player season, is there going to be talk pregame? Well of course there is,” he said.
Wade (seen above on “Survivor” 50″) also said he thinks it’s “sad” that there’s been so much discourse over pregame alliances. Robert Voets/CBS
Wade, who is pictured above with fellow “Survivor 50” contestant Ozzy Lusth, confirmed that he talked to other players before they filmed the show. Robert Voets/CBS
“Did I talk to people? think that there was a FaceTime between a few people. But guess what? I’ve got an Android. I don’t even do FaceTime!” Wade insisted.
The reality star also clarified that his meltdown about playing with honor and integrity on last week’s episode actually had to do with the pregame alliance talk.
“I think t’s kind of a waste of time to talk about it,” he told us. “I mean, when Dee said she talked to Rizo before, that reminded me of when Parvati talked to Russell before Season 20. There’s shady stuff going on before, and people are going to reach out and try to feel if there’s that comfort zone to other people.”
Wade (seen above on “Survivor 50”) compared Dee and Rizo’s pregame chat to Parvati and Russell allegedly talking before Season 20. Robert Voets/CBS
“You don’t want to screw yourself by going out there and not having talked to anybody,” Wade (pictured above during a challenge) told Page Six. Robert Voets/CBS
Wade also said that while he tried to “minimize” his pregame talks, he didn’t want to show up to Fiji unprepared.
“You don’t want to screw yourself by going out there and not having talked to anybody,” he explained. “I’m very aloof and very elusive. I don’t do [‘Survivor’] events, so I’m not connected with people out there.”
Wade added, “So for me to feel a level of comfortability in talking to some people before the game, that’s great.”
“Survivor 50” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.