Jeff Probst has revealed why two Survivor 49 players were removed from the game before filming and replaced by alternates. Survivor 49 will premiere on CBS on September 24, 2025, and feature 18 players, two of whom were also chosen to be part of the Survivor 50 cast.
Throughout Survivor’s history, things have unfortunately gone wrong. For example, elements of the finale for Survivor 48 were spoiled days before it aired. Even though fans know to expect the unexpected, Probst’s revelation about why two Survivor 49 players had to be replaced is shocking.
In August 2025, Jeff Probst told Entertainment Weekly that two of Survivor 49’s original players were ejected from the game before it started. While Probst wasn’t specific about exactly what those potential players had done, he made it clear they were ejected for breaking the show’s rules in some way. Check out Probst’s comments below:
“Survivor has rules and standards, and if a player crosses that line, we act. It’s one of the reasons we bring alternates, is to have our own insurance. Typically, we bring alternates in case somebody gets sick or has a panic attack and can’t begin the game. That’s very, very, very rare there.
But regardless why we brought them there initially, they are also there to serve as a reminder that we do put a lot of importance on the integrity of the game, and we won’t let anything or any person put that in jeopardy.
Casting on Survivor is never static. It’s always alive. It’s always in motion right up until the game begins. And typically, we bring 18 players to Fiji and we bring two alternates just in case something unexpected happens.
And this season, something unexpected happened and we removed two players from the game and our two alternates — who thought they were there just as insurance knowing that most likely they would be invited back next year to play — were suddenly thrust into the game. It was a shock, for sure.”
What This Means For Survivor 49
As Jeff Probst confirmed, the two Survivor 49 players who were ejected before the game were replaced by a pair of alternates. It has been confirmed that the alternates who got to play unexpectedly were Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu and Jason Treul.
Throughout Survivor history, alternates have been thrust into the game at the last minute multiple times. In some cases, players who’ve replaced someone just before the game started have gone on to last a long time. As a result, it is certainly possible that Chukwujekwu and/or Treul will dominate Survivor.
That said, suddenly finding yourself playing Survivor when you expected to spend some time on an island and fly back home has to have an effect on someone. With that in mind, fans should keep a close eye on how Chukwujekwu and Treul do during Survivor 49 and keep their unorthodox entry into the game in mind.
Our Take On Two Survivor 49 Players Being Ejected Before The Game
Unless the exact reason why two Survivor 49 players were ejected is announced, nobody should make assumptions. The two disqualified players could have done something relatively harmless, like talking to each other before the game started. Still, learning two players were kicked out of the game by producers makes me think about the darkest chapter in Survivor history.
During Survivor: Island of the Idols, Dan Spilo was allowed to stay in the game for days as Kellee Kim repeatedly complained about his unwanted touching. Spilo was only ejected from the game after an off-camera incident with a crewmember inspired the show’s producers to remove him. Survivor‘s producers later apologized to Kim for not acting sooner.
After the disturbing Survivor: Island of the Idols incident, I want the show’s producers to be vigilant in enforcing the rules in the future. As a result, learning about Survivor 49′s two ejections makes me happy, even though I am not making any assumptions about what went on behind the scenes.