Survivor Alum Michael Yerger Shares Why He Hasn’t Reta

Michael Yerger was made to survive one show only.

The former Survivor contestant, who was only 18 when he appeared on the show in 2018, hasn’t been on Survivor or any other competitive reality show since. He’s open to returning, though, as long as he can remain authentic to who he is.

After someone on X asked why fan-favorite Michael wasn’t coming back for Survivor 50, he explained that it wasn’t his choice. He said he’d be happy to return, but the show’s producers didn’t invite him back.

He explained on X (formerly Twitter) on November 3rd that he hadn’t pursued other shows, holding out hope for a potential return, because he remains dedicated to his work.

Michael wasn’t the only popular player left out of this special season. Rob Mariano, known as “Boston Rob,” and Parvati Shallow were also notable stars who weren’t invited.

Jeff Probst, host of the CBS competition series, explained on his podcast On Fire (co-hosted by winner Jeremy Collins) that they didn’t include any winners from the Winners at War season because it was recent and a large-scale event. He acknowledged that some viewers would be disappointed not to see players like Jeremy, but stated that was the sole reason for the decision.

Being popular on the show didn’t automatically mean a contestant would be invited back. Plus, some people actually didn’t want to return, like Rob, who had recently been on Traitors.

You know, things are pretty relaxed for me right now! I’m enjoying some downtime and honestly, I’m not feeling the urge to jump back into the competition scene anytime soon. I’m taking a bit of a break and really focusing on spending quality time with the kids while they’re home for the summer. It’s a nice change of pace.

The next season of Survivor, which will air next spring, will feature Mike White, a contestant from the 2018 season. Host Jeff Probst has expressed how happy he is to see the creator of The White Lotus return to the show.

Jeff Probst, host of Survivor, recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he believes Mike is quite possibly the best storyteller the show has ever seen. Probst described Mike as a genuinely kind and unique person, emphasizing his authenticity and his ability to consistently achieve positive results by staying true to himself.

He went so far as to call Mike “one of the best of all time.”

Keep reading to see who else will be a part of Survivor 50.

Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)

Survivor seasons 12 (Panama-Exile Island), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), and 34 (Game Changers) are considered particularly memorable installments of the show.