Cirie Fields‘ journey on Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans came to an end on Wednesday after her closest remaining ally, Rizo Velovic, joined the others in voting her out. However, the five-time fan favorite from Panama, Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains, and Game Changers has no hard feelings for Rizo, aka RizGod, aka RizRat.
“It’s a learning process and Rizo will learn along the way that when you find loyalty, it’s hard to come by,” Cirie tells Gold Derby. She likens the 25-year-old to one of her children doing something wrong at home, claiming, “But do I turn on them? Do I not love them anymore? No.”
Aubry Bracco is the last remaining “old school” player remaining, and Cirie thinks Aubry “has an argument” to win the $2 million prize during next week’s finale on May 20. The others in the Final 5 are Joe Hunter, Jonathan Young, Rizo Velovic, and Tiffany Ervin.
Cirie also explains why she felt the need to apologize to Ozzy Lusth after making a “stupid response” about him during the penultimate episode. As for being dubbed the “best player to never win” by viewers, the “grateful” castaway adds, “If you call me the best of anything, I will take that, because that is not what I ever set out to be.”
Read on for our full exit interview with Cirie.
Cirie FieldsScott Duncan/CBS
Gold Derby: The whole country is in mourning right now. I love that you’re laughing, though!
Cirie Fields: You know what? I am so honored and flattered from the outpouring of love that I’ve received after last night’s episode. People from China are DMing me! I can’t say thank you enough. I feel so awesome because of the game that I played. My only sadness is for all of the fans that love me and are in mourning today.
You’ve heard the phrase, “The best player to never win Survivor.” What does that actually mean to you?
Cirie: All I hear is the first two words: “the best.” And if you call me the best of anything, I will take that, because that is not what I ever set out to be. The fact that they use the term “the best,” I don’t even hear the “never won” part. I stop right there, like, “Wow.”
At tribal council, Jeff Probst encouraged you to say the iconic phrase, “The tribe has spoken.” What do you remember most about your final moment at tribal?
Cirie: I felt so blessed to be there again with Jeff. It’s Season 50. There’s only one episode left. I expected to be gone in the first two or three episodes because I knew they would be coming for me, and here I stand in front of Jeff having one of the best experiences ever in my Survivor career, and seeing so many Survivor firsts with Zac Brown and MrBeast firsthand. I just felt like, “Wow, Jeff, thank you.” I felt grateful. The cherry on top was, “You’re gonna allow me to say it? I guess the tribe has spoken, Jeff, and then give me that hug.”
At the beginning of the episode, you did have some harsh words for Ozzy because he had spilled his entire game to Aubry. How do you feel about Ozzy today?
Cirie: I texted Ozzy immediately, ’cause I forgot that was my response. I don’t feel any harshness against Ozzy. Me and Ozzy played together. Ozzy protected me. I protected him. He gave me an extra vote. I saw Ozzy working feverishly to keep me in the game at the same rate I was for him, so there’s zero hard feelings for Ozzy. There’s nothing but love and apologies for that stupid response that I had on the island. It was like a parent saying, “Why would you?!” And then you want to hug them.
Rizo was in your Final 3 with Ozzy, but he voted out Ozzy last week, and you this week. What would you like to say to Rizo?
Cirie: Again, my children have made mistakes and done things I told them not to do, and then it turned out wrong. I tell them about it, we discuss it, but do I turn on them? Do I not love them anymore? No. It’s a learning process and Rizo will learn along the way that when you find loyalty, it’s hard to come by, especially in Survivor. So, there’s no hard feelings for Rizo. He was there for the same reasons that we were there: to win the game. I think, rightfully so in his mind, it’s like, “Yes, it was great working with these guys, these two iconic people, but at some point I’m never gonna win against them and I need to take action when I have to.” I think that’s what he saw and that’s what he did. Do I hate him for it? No.
Cirie Fields and Rizo VelovicRobert Voets/CBS
It looked like the votes were going to go on Tiffany until she won immunity. Would you have voted out Tiff, or what would the plan have been on your end?
Cirie: No, I would have never voted for Tiffany. I would have had to throw a vote away because Tiffany would have never voted for me and I would have never voted for her. I love Tiffany.
After the auction episode, everybody online was screaming, “There’s an advantage in Cirie’s blanket!” Did you triple check that blanket?
Cirie: That’s what I was thinking. I shook it out. I didn’t want to do it right there in front of everybody, but yes, that’s the reason I wanted the blanket, because typically there’s something in there. Why didn’t [the producers] put something in the blanket? Y’all know your girl’s going for the comfort! [laughs]
One of your best moments this season was when you were looking for the golden coconut, and you were at your lowest moment, and then you looked over and you found it. Did you get to take that home?
Cirie: I think they’re gonna send it to me because, with customs, you can’t just come through there with food and stuff — and it is a real coconut. I do want that. I wanna frame that, put it in a box, whatever, because that was very emotional for me.
Usually the extra vote advantage doesn’t really do anything or go anywhere, but you used it at the perfect time. You saved yourself. Everyone was so proud of you in that moment. Were you proud of yourself?
Cirie: Absolutely. I mean, I can’t not be proud of myself, especially when we’re sitting there and I see Devens look over at the jury and go, “Yeah, we got her.” And I’m sitting there thinking to myself, “No, you don’t.” I look back at him and smile, like, “Nice try, but no goal today.” So, yes, I was extremely proud and grateful that Ozzy gave me that extra vote.
Next week, Sia will give away a fan-favorite prize of $100,000. Do you have your acceptance speech ready?
Cirie: Once you reach a certain age, you know to never count checks until they’re in your account. [laughs] So I don’t count any money that I don’t have yet. But that would be an awesome thing.
Cirie Fields and Aubry BraccoRobert Voets/CBS
For the Final 5, Aubry is the last one that is representing the “old school,” and the others are all from the “new era.” Do you think Aubry is playing a winning game?
Cirie: I think Aubry has navigated through this game mostly alone, and for her to still be there, I think she definitely has an argument to why she should win this game.
Thank you so much, Cirie. I hope we see you on Survivor again someday.
Cirie: Whoo! Maybe from a nice comfy couch. [laughs]
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.