Kellie Nalbandian (‘Survivor 45’ exit interview): ‘I had a bad gut feeling’ and ‘I just was one step too slow’

On Wednesday’s eighth episode of “Survivor 45,” everyone was expecting that the Tribal Council vote would be another “dog pile” on a single player, but in a true blindside, the game divided firmly down old tribal lines. The original Reba tribe members held strong and took control of the numbers by finding a great second option in the elimination of Kellie Nalbandian. Read on for Kellie’s “Survivor 45” exit interview from the end of the episode.

Prior to the immunity challenge, a brewing all female alliance had set their sights on taking out Bruce Perreault and Kellie, his strongest supporter, was even (finally) keen on the plan. By this point in the game Kellie had come to see Bruce as her “ball and chain” in the game, dragging down her ability to work with anyone else because of how much of a social game liability he was. When Drew Basile first heard of the female alliance from Emily Flippen he was okay with it, but later became the architect of Kellie’s blindside. The turning point was Bruce winning individual immunity and the group having to look at their best second option.

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Reflecting on her shocking elimination, Kellie said, “This one burns, I’m not gonna lie.” On her way out of the TC area, she asked both Emily and Austin Li Coon if they “did this” and they both copped to it. Her original Belo tribe allies, Kendra McQuarrie, Bruce, and Katurah Topps were gobsmacked, all left out of the decision that split down a 5-3 vote. Bruce had lost his vote during the “Survivor Auction” earlier in the episode and Jake O’Kane, the heir apparent to the “dog pile” vote, lost his when he used his Shot in the Dark unsuccessfully. He got the three votes from Kendra, Bruce, and Katurah, his own long-time allies.

“I feel like I had a lot of game left in me,” Kellie added in her exit interview. “I had a bad gut feeling today. I didn’t listen to it, but I did everything I could to try to set myself up in a good position and I just was one step too slow so credit to everybody else.” In fact, Kellie was part of the early discussions about who the tribe should split the vote on alongside Jake in case an idol came into play, but like everyone else she was unwilling to throw out a name. In the end, Kellie’s goal of becoming the first lesbian winner of the show was cut short. “I’m honored to have had the opportunity to play,” she concluded.

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