Leaked!!! Host Jeff Probst announces the list of former players who were ‘cut’ from the final Season 50 cast

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Fans are just weeks away from witnessing the hotly-anticipated premiere of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans,” which will see the return of 24 iconic former castaways as they once again vie for the title of “Sole Survivor” and the prize money that comes with it.

Despite featuring the return of legendary old-school players like Cirie Fields, Benjamin “Coach” Wade and Ozzy Lusth, as well as “New Era” champions like Kyle Fraser, Dee Valladares and Savannah Louie, many fans and former players alike have criticized the series’ largest-ever cast for “cutting” certain fan favorite castaways from participating in the milestone season.

While longtime host and executive producer Jeff Probst has spoken at length about how difficult the casting process was for Season 50 – which required producers to whittle down a pool of more than 750 eligible castaways to a finalized cast of just 24, in a new interview with Vanity Fair, he opened up about his reaction and response to former players who expressed their “hurt” and “disappointment” at not landing a spot on the historic installment.

Probst Says Backlash From Former Players ‘Hurts My Heart’

'Survivor's' Jeff Probst on set — ‘Survivor’s’ Jeff Probst on set

“It hurts my heart,” Probst told Vanity Fair’s David Canfield, referring specifically to statements issued by former castaways like Carolyn Wiger (“Survivor 44”) and Jerri Manthey (“Survivor: The Australian Outback”; “Survivor: All-Stars”; “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains”), both of whom were in consideration for a spot on Season 50 before being “cut” from the final cast.

After the official cast announcement dropped in May 2025, Carolyn was among the first – and most local – of the former players who took aim at producers for allegedly promising her a spot on Season 50, with sources at the time claiming that Wiger was “furious” after being “cut.”

Carolyn Wiger on "Survivor 44"

CBS/GettyCarolyn Wiger on “Survivor 44”

The Season 44 finalist similarly argued that she was being “punished” for joining the cast of rival reality competition series “The Traitors.”

Manthey, who would have celebrated her fourth “Survivor” appearance alongside Colby Donaldson if she’d landed a spot on the milestone installment, similarly admitted she was “devastated” after the cast announcement dropped.