Ozzy Lusth isn’t alone: The Most Devastating Idol Blindsides in Survivor History Revealed!

While it doesn’t happen too often, some of the most unforgettable blindsides happen with a player getting their torch snuffed as an idol burns a hole in their pocket. And it’s happened enough that there was literally an entire season themed after the poor decisions made around idols past—Survivor: Ghost Island.

And while that season featured Ozzy Lusth’s fake hidden immunity idol he crafted during Survivor: Micronesia, it did not directly call out the idol he left the game with in the same season. However, if the theme were to be revisited in the new era, I would be surprised if his Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol didn’t make the cut.

And while Ozzy is now the first player in Survivor history to be voted out twice with a hidden immunity idol in his pocket, it still doesn’t quite top the first ever player to be voted out with safety in their grasp. Check out who made the cut and why we’ll never forget their un-plays.

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans

Ozzy Lusth

Fans were devastated when one of their favorite players of all time was voted out of Survivor 50 on day 21 in 8th place. But what was even more upsetting was the fact that he didn’t play the Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol sitting in his pocket despite saying all day he was going to play it—even having had a dream about it the night before. And with the twist that came with this new idol, he was literally the only person it could be played for. But unfortunately, he didn’t trust his gut and got sent to the jury.

Survivor 46

Jem Hussain-Adams, Hunter McKnight, Tiffany Ervin, Venus Vafa, Q Burdette

Survivor 46 holds the record for most players voted out with immunity idols in their pocket. And while Jem was voted out pre-merge on day 11, our other four players made secondary history as the first players to be voted out with idols in their pockets at back-to-back-to-back-to-back Tribal Councils. After Hunter was blindsided with an idol in his pocket, Tiffany didn’t see her own blindside by ally Q coming. Then Venus thought she’d been able to get enough votes to save herself, but the most fascinating misplay was by Q himself. On day 23, his ally Maria Shrime Gonzalez told him to play his idol—after three other players were eliminated with idols immediately preceding him—so they could blindside Charlie Davis, but he felt it wasn’t necessary and became the four member of the jury blindsided with an idol in their pocket.

Survivor 45

Sabiyah Broderick, Bruce Perreault

This season already started off on an interesting foot as Bruce was selected to join the cast as—technically—the first returning player of the new era. He’d previously injured himself during the marooning challenge of Survivor 44, removing him from the game within the first five minutes of the season. And apparently, the Survivor forces didn’t want him to win as he was voted out with an immunity idol on day 19, joining the jury.

But even before then, on day 7, Sabiyah Broderick was hit by the Lulu tribe curse when a Beware Advantage led her to an idol encased in wax, but her tribe didn’t have fire for her to melt it with. So she took it to Tribal Council, unlocked her idol in front of everyone and then proceeded to withhold her vote in order to sustain its power for more Tribal Council visits. Unfortunately, she was blindsided that very night.

Survivor 41

Naseer Muttalif, Shan Smith

Survivor 41 featured an idol blindside by an idol blindsider not unlike Survivor 46—just with less people. On day 17, Naseer was overly confident in his game and his alliance which led to Ricard Foyé and Shan blindsiding him with an idol in his pocket. Only two days later, though, Shan’s former ally Ricard pulled the same move on her, deciding her threat level was too high and orchestrating a blindside against her, with an idol that could have prevented it.

Survivor: Winners at War

Sophie Clarke

When Sophie found the hidden immunity idol she planned not to tell anyone about it, but this season, idols had to be shared for one night between two people in order for it to gain power. She gave half of her idol to ally Sarah Lacina, who thankfully gave it back to her after it was activated. Sophie and Sarah went on to plot a few blindsides themselves until Tony Vlachos saw Sophie leading the blindside on Wendell Holland and became threatened by her strategic prowess as well as her relationship with his former ally Sarah. During a planned split vote, Tony used his numbers to throw Sophie’s name in the pot and vote her out with an unused idol.

Survivor: Island of the Idols

Vince Moua, Chelsea Walker, Kellee Kim

Early in the game, Vince earned an idol from Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine, but was immediately blindsided as his tribe wanted to flush a potential idol he may have gotten while visiting them. The very next Tribal Council, Chelsea was blindsided simply because of a potential showmance threat and never got to use the idol she found at camp. And Kellee Kim became the first merged player voted out when her tribe mates grew wary of her strategic prowess, eliminating her with not one, but two idols in her pocket—the second player (and first female player) ever to leave with two idols on her.

Survivor: Edge of Extinction

Aubry Bracco, Kelley Wentworth

Both of these dynamic players returned for their third season with Edge of Extinction, but entered the game as huge targets. So despite Aubry finding an immunity idol within her first couple of days and then being given an extra vote at the tribe swap, she was blindsided for the target on her back. Wentworth—previously known for great idol play during Survivor: Cambodia—positioned herself well and made it to the merge, but was ultimately blindsided at the Final 9 by one of her early allies.

Survivor: Ghost Island

Chris Noble

After a visit to Ghost Island, Chris earned a hidden immunity, but also lost his ability to vote. He was blindsided at the very next Tribal Council by Domenick Abbate and Wendall Holland—the very players who would go on to become the Final Two.