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‘Best Survivor exit ever’ has fans delighting in the chaos

One divisive Survivor contestant went out in a blaze of glory last night – and the wild moments continued after the episode aired.

Nick BondNick Bond
@bondnickbond
2 min read
February 21, 2024 - 12:13PM
Australian Survivor star's chaotic exit (Channel 10)

The latest player ousted from Australian Survivor left in chaotic fashion during Tuesday’s tribal council, fumbling some basic customs of the game as she shocked her tribemates with information she’d been holding onto for 25 days.

Contestant Kelli Harris, 55, had been concealing her true profession from her fellow contestants for the entire game. While she revealed in to-camera confessionals that she was a psychologist, she was shown in early chats with the other contestants saying she worked in “mental health support” before quickly moving on.

Kelli’s reasoning was simple: Much like lawyers, psychologists are a profession that are perceived to put a target on Survivor players’ backs.

So last night, with nothing left to lose, Kelli decided to reveal the truth to her (now former) tribemates.

Jonathan LaPaglia makes the announcement.
Jonathan LaPaglia makes the announcement.

Kelli being Kelli, it didn’t all go smoothly. First she was so eager to deliver her speech, she failed to collect her torch, to be snuffed by host Jonathan LaPaglia. He ordered her back to the benches to collect it for the ceremonial extinguishing of her life in the game.

“So, sometimes in life, as always I make decisions to protect people who I believe are kind and good. And I’ve been doing that for 33 years – because I AM A PSYCHOLOGIST,” she announced.

The reveal was met with shocked looks – and then a round of applause – by the other contestants.

Kelli's announcement stunned her tribemates.
Kelli's announcement stunned her tribemates.
Kelli makes her exit speech.
Kelli makes her exit speech.

“And I am 55 years of age and I am GODDAMN PROUD OF IT,” she continued, turning to exit – before JLP had actually snuffed her torch and dismissed her.

“This is Survivor,” tribemate Feras could be heard helpfully reminding her.

Torch snuffed, Kelli was finally free to leave – if only she could figure out which way to go.

“OK, you go that way, then around the bend,” host-turned-navigator JLP instructed her, before she set off in the wrong direction.

“No, no, come back – go left. Down that way,” he sighed.

Fans loved Kelli’s mix of dramatic reveals with bumbling physical comedy, with one viewer on Twitter going so far as to call it the “best exit in #SurvivorAU history.”

And the iconic Kelli moments don’t stop just because she’s no longer on the show. Shortly after her elimination aired, Kelli used her fledgling TikTok account to release a near-five-minute song about her Survivor experience, set to the tune of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell, titled Rebel Kel and “sung” by the woman herself. Listen if you dare:

Kelli was full of big talk pre-season about why being a psychologist would give her the competitive edge on Survivor.

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“I’ve been analysing people for more than half my life. I get to meet beautiful people and see the dynamics between people. Coming into this, is like a psychologist playground – I can watch everyone and assess what’s happening,” she said.

In the end, it wasn’t enough to help her to victory – she was the 10th person eliminated this season.

Australian Survivor continues 7:30pm Sunday on Ten.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/australian-survivor/best-survivor-exit-ever-has-fans-delighting-in-the-chaos/news-story/80dc689bafd14f1db7b12dd3286a403e