Cara reveals surprising reason for her bizarre Survivor Brains tribe exit

“I didn’t sign up for this”: One Survivor player has revealed the very surprising reason she blew up her own game in last night’s episode.

Australian Survivor fans were left stunned in Tuesday night’s episode when Brains tribe member Cara blew up her own game in spectacular style, voted out of her tribe after she played her hidden immunity idol for ally George.

It was an unusual act of selflessness in the game of Survivor – why save someone else when there’s a $500,000 grand prize at stake?

Speaking to news.com.au the morning after the episode aired, Sydney real estate agent Cara, 47, had some surprising insights about life on the Brains tribe. She revealed that she was quite prepared to go home, having decided she no longer wanted to be around the “negativity” of her tribemates, particularly towards George.

Cara says goodbye to the Brains tribe.

“I knew exactly what I was doing. I 100 per cent thought I was going home. I am a massive fan, but I’m also a big believer in enjoying the journey, and there was a lot of negativity on that tribe,” she said.

“I did that a) for George, because he’s a very smart and slightly wounded individual, but b) because I just wanted to make a stand. I like to protect people – I knew it was to my own detriment, but I knew I had to make a stand. I’m a battler and a brawler, but I thought, I didn’t sign up for this journey for it to be like this. I’m not going to compromise my integrity.”

Thankfully, Cara’s stand didn’t result in her elimination from the game – after she left tribal council, a twist meant she was saved from elimination and will now move to the Brawn tribe. But she says she had no prior knowledge of that twist, and had “made peace” with the idea of leaving Survivor for good.

Cara said it was largely the negativity towards George that so troubled her. She was aware some members of the tribe were copping hate on social media and didn’t want to add fuel to the fire, but wanted to share her reasons for leaving – and stick up for her tribemate.

George couldn’t contain his emotions.

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“I really think he was misunderstood. He actually told the truth – he was a bit clumsy in dealing with people, but I think he’s been trodden on his whole life. There’s an adage, ‘There’s something about this person I don’t like about myself.’ If you’re not liking someone, then question why it is.”

One line in last night’s tribal council struck a chord with viewers. George, stunned that Cara had played her idol for him, sobbed openly as he asked her why she did something so selfless. “I’m a mum,” was the mother-of-three’s simple response.

George: you’re so selfless.
Cara: I’m a mum #SurvivorAUpic.twitter.com/enPDBb6Cyt

— justcarlae (@justcarlae) July 27, 2021

I know this is a game but Cara saying she’s a mum makes me cry. #SurvivorAU

— Meredith Gay (@katyperrybells) July 27, 2021

Awww cara’s ‘I’m a mum’ comment ❤️ #SurvivorAU

— Nessa Vee (@NessaFayBayBay) July 27, 2021

“I am maternal, I am a mother, and I was protective of [George]. I just want to step up and protect people like that. It’s just not right: Someone needs to stand up for those people. And he’s not even a bad person! It’s just a game,” she said.

“In Survivor, they strip out everything – your food, family and creature comforts. Why not have an enjoyable journey together?”

So, after that dramatic tribal council, Cara will now move to the Brawn tribe from Sunday’s episode. Perhaps surprisingly for viewers who’ve found the Brawn tribe’s cockiness a lot to take, Cara said she actually preferred her new tribemates.

“The Brawn tribe is such a different vibe – they’re just more comfortable in their own skin, and more real with their emotions, funnily enough. I think Brains are … too in their head.”

Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn continues 7.30pm Sunday on Ten.