In episode 9 of Survivor 49, contestant Alex Moore was voted out in a 6-2-1 tribal council, orchestrated by rival Rizo. Moore's exit interview reveals his frustration over a smear campaign and the failure to flush Rizo's hidden immunity idol. The episode highlighted ongoing post-merge tensions and strategic missteps.
Episode Recap
Episode 9 of Survivor 49, aired on Wednesday, saw the consequences of previous tribe swaps intensify as alliances fractured in the merge. With nine players left, Rizo, Savannah, and Blue Sophi formed a tight trio, while Alex found himself in the middle of competing factions. The reward challenge involved a fried chicken meal, which Kristina appealed to give to Jawan, recognizing his role as the tribe's provider. Jawan accepted, sharing insights into his background as a caretaker for his siblings.
The immunity challenge was an endurance test where contestants balanced a heavy disc using their feet. Steven won the men's portion after outlasting Jawan, and Savannah secured the women's immunity, continuing her strong performance. Post-challenge, plans to split votes between Rizo and Blue Sophi emerged, but Rizo targeted Alex, spreading a mix of truths and lies about his connections to multiple players.
Tribal Council and Vote
At tribal council, discussions revolved around threats, idols, and alliances, with Steven drawing parallels to space missions for emphasis. Rizo did not play his hidden immunity idol, which he retained. Votes resulted in Alex receiving six, leading to his elimination. Other votes went to Blue Sophi (two) and Rizo (one).
Alex Moore's Exit Interview
In his TVLine interview, Alex expressed surprise that more players did not target Rizo, blaming 'caving' to Rizo's influence. He described Rizo as a Day 1 rival who won the 'war' through a smear campaign. Alex noted his strategy of playing the middle, influenced by his political background in Washington, D.C., but felt control slipped after a prior vote. He highlighted solid relationships with Kristina and Steven but couldn't overcome the trio's bond. Alex was proud of his game, believing he would have advanced further without Rizo's interference.