The newest jury member also says there were &34;heated&34; conversations about race on the island. Survivor 49 star Jawan Pitts reveals he smuggled French fries in his sock The newest jury member also says there were &34;heated&34; conversations about race on the island. By Dalton Ross :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DaltonRossauthorphoto2e15b12006e2438a99fb06db6d682421.jpg) Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. Survivor is kind of his thing. EW's editorial guidelines December 1, 2025 11:22 a.m.

The newest jury member also says there were "heated" conversations about race on the island.

Survivor 49 star Jawan Pitts reveals he smuggled French fries in his sock

The newest jury member also says there were "heated" conversations about race on the island.

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 1, 2025 11:22 a.m. ET

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Jawan Pitts on 'Survivor 49'. Credit:

Robert Voets/CBS

He repeatedly told us that *Survivor* was like a horror movie, and on Thanksgiving eve, Jawan Pitts became the victim. Jawan was blindsided by his former Uli allies and became the fourth member of the *Survivor 49* jury after Sophie Segreti joined Rizo Velovic, Savannah Louie, and Sophi Balerdi to take him out. The opposition also put a little mustard on the move, with Savannah pretending to not know the outcome and trolling Jawan by acting to be hurt by his betrayal. Rizo then played a fake idol to add even more showmanship to the ouster.

How does Jawan feel about those moves? What was up with him stealing everyone's stuff (bags, water bottles, torches)? And what happened out there that we did not see? We asked juror number 4 all that and more.

Jawan Pitts on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**: What do you make of Savannah trolling you at Tribal Council as the votes are being read pretending to not know you had flipped on her, while knowing the entire time that you would be the one to go?**

**JAWAN PITTS: **It was savage. It was total savage. I think it's crazy being blindsided because it's like an out of body experience, but I do remember the looks. That stuck with me. I was like, "Yo!" I can be salty all I want but I think I had my fair share of like, evil, you know, beard-stroking smirks towards her before too. So, tit for tat.

**Why were you pleading with Rizo to play his idol for Savannah, since you were about to be outed as having voted for her anyway?**

Because at that point I knew we were cooked. I knew we were done, so I might as well get him to burn that thing. But this speaks to how unaware I was on that vote because I thought I had weird vibes before we left for Tribal. But I'm like, *If something hits the fan, my name won't be brought up. Odds are they're going to go after Steven, maybe Kristina, maybe Sage.*

So that was me kind of being like, *Okay, you know, it's going to bite somebody, but it's not going to bite me.* And then when I saw the first Jawan vote, I was done.

Watch unaired 'Survivor 49' 'invasion of privacy' bag search scene (exclusive)

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**Were you surprised you did not have Yellow Sophie on your side?**

Yeah, I really underestimated Yellow Sophie. First off, she's a fierce competitor, and the editors need to get it together. I wish she had more screen time, because I always thought she was a force out there. And on my blindside specifically, I underestimated seeing her go off with the other Sophi. I'm like*, Huh, what do they have to be talking about?*

But what kept me calm with her is her relationship with Sage. I think they have an out of game relationship, and so anytime I was wary about Yellow Sophie, Sage would be like, "No, we got her. She's with us." And that's what was my downfall was, not trusting my gut. I knew something was up with her.

Jawan Pitts on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**Was there any strategic purpose to Rizo's fake idol play or was it just for show and playing to the jury?**

I believe it was a little bit of both. I think it was definitely like his John Cena moment, like WWE. He's a showman and I can respect that, you know? He's excited to be out there. And then maybe there's something to wanting to make Yellow Sophie feel comfortable if there was a plan. But I think it definitely was him kinda just being a showman though.

**Was it ever brought to your attention that you had actually brought Jeff the wrong torch to be snuffed? When did you realize that?**

When I watched it on TV, that was my first time really being like, *Oh my gosh, classic Jawan*. But it's such a beautiful way to end my story, just a full arc. I'm glad that people know that yes, I wasn't targeting Savannah with all the bag and water bottle antics. They don't show this, but I also accidentally painted Sage's water bottle. At our merge thing, we all painted ours so we would not forget, and I painted Sage's, so it's just like classic me. I'm just a dork who's clumsy.

**You said, it's classic Jawan, so is this you out of the game? Is this something that you do in your regular life too?**

Oh yeah. I'm definitely the guy that's like looking for my wallet, the keys, checking at all times because I will forget everything. So, yeah, that's me.

Jawan Pitts on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**I wrote this after the episode, but shouldn't Rizo technically be out of the game if his torch was snuffed?**

I mean, you said it, Dalton! That's the next level gameplay right there. I should still be in there technically. It was all my master plan.

**MC told me that the reason she told you about Yellow Sophie putting a vote on you is that she did not want the first two jury members to both be Black, and that she told you that. Do you remember that, and if so, what was your reaction to that reasoning?**

Such a great question. Thank you for bringing that up. I do remember that conversation and it was a long, intimate conversation about just kind of like the optics. And we talked about season 42 and other prior new era seasons. And I just want to hold space for her hurt feelings and also hold space for anyone that maybe is uncomfortable with our overall boot order in the jury.

I will say for my perspective, every move I made out there was about bringing home money for my family. I'm a broke dude, man, and I have no safety net. So I remember talking to MC about that, and my goal wasn't to try to get her out after she told me that. My goal was like, *How do I protect me and her?* And I thought by protecting me and her was trying to get the votes stacked on Yellow Sophie.

I think with the Savannah coming [on the boat] really influenced a lot. So my goal at that point was just to get me and Sage out alive. So, yeah, I want to continue to hold space for MC's hurt feelings, but for me, it wasn't personal. It just was about survival for my family.

Jawan Pitts and Alex Moore on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**Was there any more discussion about Black players being voted out after the merge after Alex was sent out?**

Yeah, thank you for bringing that up. Me and, Kristina actually had a longer conversation about it. It got pretty heated between me and her. But yeah, it definitely was something that was a topic of conversations.

**Is this something that you, MC, and Kristina have now all been able to come to a good space together where you feel like you all understand the perspectives where everyone was coming from?**

You know, that's such a great question. I feel like I'm learning that everyone has their own process of healing, and that looks different for everyone. I definitely reached out and tried to clear their air on certain things. I just hope in  some more time we can continue to unpack stuff together.

**You say how everyone has their own process of healing. Everyone also goes into the game with their own set of personal rules in terms of the things they are going to do. You said, "I'm coming in, I'm broke, I'm going to do this." But that line is not static for everyone. It's in different places. And that's what why the game can be both frustrating and fascinating.**

100 percent. Thanks for saying that.

Jawan Pitts on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**Look, I've talked to some of your original Uli tribemates and they say that had original Uli gone to Tribal Council, you would have been the one to go. Did you sense that out there early in the game or was that news to you?**

I learned that when I talked to Sage on the Island on the Shannon boot. And I'm so blessed. I think it's really rare where a player can get a second chance. It's almost like I won an advantage. I feel like I got a phone call from home and Sage was that for me. So, I knew I was cooked, man. I didn't feel that until I talked with Sage, but then that really influences why I make the decisions moving forward, which is more kind of like, alright, anybody but me, you know?

**I think people were really rooting for you in Sage as these underdogs who sort of banded together and at least momentarily took control of the game. Talk to me about your relationship with her and was that what sort of drew you together originally? Was it just the fact that we needed each other and we're not part of the cool kids table?**

Yeah, it definitely felt like the cool kids and the top dogs were Nate, Savannah, Rizo and Shannon. They don't show this, but was actually really close with Shannon throughout the whole pre-merge., I think the reason why I'm so loyal is because I thought I would get back to her and we would reunite. But for Sage to really take the chance on me — and we weren't really that close day one, day two, early game — the fact that she took time to really invest in me, she just feels like someone that you meet in high school and you don't even remember how you became best friends.

I think every side of Jawan I can be, I can be goofy, I can be serious, I can be crying, and she just has always been a solid support system for me. And I'm just blessed that I have someone that unique in my life.

Jawan Pitts and Sage Ahrens-Nichols on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**We heard you repeatedly talk about how *Survivor* is like a horror movie. So what is it like then watching it back and watching Rizo Tribal after Tribal not even have to play an idol or get targeted? I have to imagine that's the ultimate horror movie.**

Yeah, man. That was horrible. Especially because at the merge vote, I was like, "We need to get him out. This is my one-time camouflage of me sniping him. If we don't do it now, it's going to get tricky." But I also think there's something to be said about the amount of idols getting played. In 46, everyone got voted out with idol in their pocket. And then from that point on, people were starting to use that. And in our season, Alex played an idol, MC played an idol. But I think the fact that he was aware of that, that's kind of almost a next level way of thinking. So I just couldn't have predicted that he held it and that's why I was nudging him to get him to play it.

Jawan Pitts and Rizo Velovic on 'Survivor 49'.

Robert Voets/CBS

**What's something that happened out there that didn't make it to TV that you wish we had seen?**

Yeah, I have a really messy moment between me and Sage that really just shows how wacky we are. So at the fried chicken reward challenge. I try to be a big brain game player and at the end, I started looking for advantages. So there's a bowl of fries in front of me, I stick my hand in the fries, look around, there's no advantage, but I'm like, *Oh, I have a fist full of fries and I'll be hungry later*.

So I put the fries in my sock like a crazy person, [in case] someone was going to check my pockets. So one night when I went back, I was like, "Sage, check my socks." And then we had a good laugh about eating crusty sandy fries from my sock. Classic me and Sage.

**If you could go back and change one thing about your game, what would it be?**

My journey on the show was about providing a lot for my family and for my siblings, but I'm also someone that you see at the first Tribal Council, I'm struggling to talk and communicate my ideas. So I'm not as confident as maybe Rizo and Savannah. So I think sometimes if I were to go back, I would try to be more trusting in my gut.

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Source: Survivor

Published: December 01, 2025 at 11:57AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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