Survivor 50: Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick on Cirie Fields' Betrayal

Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick and Cirie Fields have appeared together on multiple reality TV shows: it started on the Survivor all-stars season Heroes vs. Villains, followed by the USA Network competition series Snake in the Grass and then the first season of The Traitors. So going into Survivor 50, they carried nearly two decades of shared history into the game with them.

That history is exactly what makes an all-stars season so different from a fresh cast. “This is not a brand new cast where you and I just met,” Stephenie told Newsweek. “I knew Cirie personally. She knows my children. I know her children.” When the game gets personal, the stakes shift. What might read as strategy on paper lands as something closer to betrayal in real life.

Wednesday’s episode was one of the biggest of this historic season, and not just because Jimmy Donaldson, best known as MrBeast, appeared and raised the prize pot to $2 million. The real drama played out at Tribal Council, where Stephenie played hard until the very end and still went home. Originally she and Jonathan Young had plotted to take out Ozzy Lusth, but the plan backfired quickly, and Stephenie was clear about where that idea originated: “It was not my idea.” Ultimately, a 15-plus year reality competition relationship shifted when Cirie orchestrated the vote against her. Stephenie now joins the long list of players sent home because of Cirie’s influence.

And yet, Stephenie isn’t bitter. “I’m not a sore loser,” she said. “I’ve always been able to call a spade a spade.” She made the jury in one of the most competitive seasons in Survivor history, and she’s at peace with that. Mostly.

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Editor’s Note: This conversation has been edited and condensed for publication.

How are you feeling?

You know what, I’m relieved. I had been knowing this episode was coming since before the first episode even aired. Only three people can get to the end. Only one person can win. I went into this season thinking, I hope I can just make the jury. It had been so long since I first played and so long since I had played a third time. So I was like, let me just get out there and hope I can at least get to the jury. When I almost went home when Q [Burdette] went home, which was second or third, the fact that I kept being able to survive and just keep my head down and keep going, I’m proud of that. I got to episode 10 out of 13. Not too shabby.

When MrBeast raised the prize to $2 million and you went home that same night, how did that feel?

Yeah, two million is now on the line. I actually really wanted to flip the coin too [to determine if the prize would increase to $2 million], and it didn’t air, but I went over and talked to some people. I even talked to and I was like, I kind of want to do it too. And he was like, I’m doing it, and I was like, this is going to be a fight and then we might have to go to rocks. But everyone was still assuring me that either [Rick] Devens out or, even if he’s safe, it’ll be Aubry [Bracco]. So they were like, you don’t have to do it, and it’s a 50-50 shot and very risky. So I was like, all right, have your moment, Devens. Then he wins it, it’s two million on the line, and then I go home that night. But I’m a very realistic person. Only one person is going to win that two million. There are nine people left, which means eight more who won’t win it. This is reality. I’ve always been a good sport. I’ve never been a sore loser. I’ve always been able to call a spade a spade and admit the truth. One person’s gonna win. That’s the truth.

When you were leaving, you called out that you were not behind the Ozzy vote plot. Why was it important to say that?

Just for them to know. And if I wanted to throw Jonathan under the bus, I would have done it earlier in Tribal Council. But that’s not who I am. At that point he was the only person being 100 percent honest with me. He came to me and said the whole vote had turned on me. Nobody else told me that. He did. So for me to go and tattle on him and say it wasn’t even my idea, it was Jonathan’s, I’m not that person. I gave him my loyalty. I told him I would play with him and be loyal to him 100 percent, and I meant it. If my time had come, so be it. I’m going to make it known it was not my idea because I already said that. I threw it on Devens and Aubry. That was my whole point. Going out, I will tell you: it was not my idea. Just know that. Take it for what it’s worth. And I think that plays a role later in the game.

You’ve now played with Cirie in four different situations. What do you make of her gameplay in Survivor 50, and how it relates to you specifically?

Cirie plays a great social game. There are no ifs, ands or buts. She gets her hooks in everywhere, and that’s her thing. She’s not a challenge beast. She’s not known for her physical capabilities. That’s her strength, and that’s what she plays to. As a person, I love Cirie. I have known her for a very long time. Did she get me out on Snake in the Grass? Yes. Did she get me out on Heroes vs. Villains? Yes. Did I protect her as far as I could on The Traitors and she still voted me out? Yes. So when it came down to 50, she and I had a conversation before we came out. I said to her, listen, I want to play with you, but how can you assure me you’re not going to screw me over again? And we had a very real, honest talk. She told me every time she had gotten me out, it was never intentional. She made valid points, I made valid points. We both agreed that, as old schoolers, she’s always said I’m like a sister to her, and I’ve always said she’s family to me. Years will pass and we’d be on another reality show and just reconnect, like old friends who can rekindle. She assured me, I assured her. The difference is I meant it. I don’t know if she really meant it. Maybe she did and then when Jenna turned on her and she felt Colby turned on her, maybe that’s when she was like, forget this old school alliance, I have to go a different route. Because I never turned on her. Every day out there she reiterated to me: we’re cool, we’re together, you’re like family to me. Even the day she voted me out, she told me she wasn’t writing my name down unless it was for that million dollars. Nothing against Cirie. I don’t dislike her. I’m not upset with her. I’m not mad at her. I just wish she would say, you’re right, I had no intention of playing with you. But maybe she did intend to play with me and something changed her mind. I don’t know. We haven’t really talked the whole season. I’ve seen her at a couple of events. We say hi, we’re cordial. It’s a game. I’m not a sore sport. Good on you.

It seems like even though people say there are no hard feelings on Survivor, this season is different because these relationships go back 20 years. Do you think feelings have been hurt?

That’s the thing. Anytime there’s an all-stars season, this is not a brand new cast where you and I just met and are getting to know each other on the island. I knew Cirie personally. She knows my children. I know her children. Same with other people on this cast. So it’s hard to not take it personal. I think my family took it more personal than I did. They’ve all seen me play with Cirie before. This is the fourth time, and they were all like, I wouldn’t trust her if I were you. But that was my decision and I was going with my gut. There were times I would second guess it. I’d have a conversation with her and she’d reassure me. And like Coach [Benjamin Wade] said, she’s the master of emotional manipulation. I would be lying if I said she didn’t emotionally manipulate me a little, because she did. She told me I was like family to her over and over. And I recently saw her son at an event and he said, I told my mom to be nice to Auntie Stephenie. I’ve known them for years.

Does that make her a great player in your opinion?

She’s a great player, but that’s her game. She says she’s loyal, and she is loyal, until she doesn’t need you anymore. Whereas I’m loyal for real. If I give you my word, I give you my word. I will go to the end with you if that’s what I told you I’d do, even if you might beat me. Like Jonathan: I could have thrown him under the bus. I didn’t. I gave him my word.

Who are you rooting for now to go all the way?

I’m really rooting for Jonathan. When Colby [Donaldson] left, Jonathan became my number one. I really trusted him. They didn’t show half of our conversations. But Jonathan became my person and we ran everything by each other and I fully trusted him. Not to mention I got to really know him, and he’s a good person. I’m worried for him right now, honestly, because I’m gone and Joe immediately turned on us and went around and told everyone about the plan. So I’m worried. But I am rooting for him.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 1:08 PM.