Despite what fans might have wanted, Boston Rob Mariano wasn’t interested in joining the cast of Survivor 50.
A five-time alum of the beloved CBS series, The Traitors competitor was notably missing from the list of players announced earlier this week who will return to play in the landmark 50th season. However, Mariano revealed that host Jeff Probst “called and asked” him to return but that he was the one to shoot down the offer.
“@survivorcbs and @jeffprobst early on they called and asked… I just felt like I have played so many times and I am truly fulfilled with my Survivor journey,” he wrote on Instagram Friday. “I wanted my spot to go to someone else that deserved another chance!”
Mariano made the post with a collage of photos of himself appearing to look upset with text that read, “Mood after finding out Boston Rob won’t be joining ‘Survivor 50’ cast.” He thanked fans for “all of your DM‘s and messages” when he wasn’t announced as part of the upcoming pool of contestants, which are all competitors from Survivor past.
Entitled Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, the landmark season will look much different than past seasons, as the fate of the show’s structure was literally placed in the hands of its fans. Viewers were tasked with voting on key elements of the format throughout season 48, including whether or not the game will have idols, if contestants will be supplied with rice and if a live reunion will be filmed in Los Angeles.
However, viewers were not given the option of voting for which Survivor players they wanted to join the cast. Instead, alumni like The White Lotus creator Mike White, The Traitors season one winner (and four-time Survivor player) Cirie Fields, season 13’s Ozzy Lusth, season 18’s Benjamin “Coach” Wade and season 32’s Aubry Bracco will be a part of the 50th season.
“I’ve gotten so much out of Survivor. It will always be a part of who I am,” Mariano concluded. “I’m eternally grateful. Like I said ..It’s gonna be OK. I feel like something good is coming!!!”
Aside from the Survivor universe, Mariano recently competed in fellow reality TV competition series, The Traitors. He told The Hollywood Reporter his “reputation” as a legend of the CBS show put a “big target on me,” which led to him being banished during episode seven.