Survivor 49’s Jason Treul on Alternate Player Status

A twist of fate sent Jason Treul on the journey of a lifetime.

While the Survivor season 49 contestant was unanimously voted off the island during the Oct. 22 episode of the CBS competition series, his elimination brought mixed emotions as he nearly didn’t get to play the game at all.

“I think that I have a unique thought on that—or not a unique thought, but a unique perspective—because the reason that I even get to play the game anyway is as an alternate,” he said in an interview with Men’s Journal published Oct. 23. “It’s out of my hands.”

The 32-year-old, along with Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu, were cast as alternate players before both being thrown in just 12 hours before the game officially kicked off, and the unexpected development seemed to prepare him for his short-lived gameplay.

“I was put on the show because of things outside of my control. I was taken off of the show by something that was a little outside of my control,” he continued. “I think that at least I’m playing the game.”