Sierra Wright Learned the Hard Way About Being in a Power Couple “Survivor.”
The 27-year-old nurse was voted off Wednesday’s episode due to her strong bond with Sam Fallen.
Before the merger, other tribes considered Wright and Phalen to be a romantic couple – which was certainly not the truth.
Wright exclusively told The Post how her boyfriend, Justin Ammerman, reacted when he saw the story about her and Phalen Display.
Wright talks about being betrayed by Andy Rueda, Rachel Lamont’s decision to play Shot in the Dark, and much more.
Read Wright’s full interview below.
New York Post: Before Tribal, did you suspect that Lavo and Tuku were going to team up against Gata?
Sierra Wright: I was definitely noticing small interactions breaking down. It started immediately after the challenge. I see Andy in the water and he’s talking to Genevieve. And then I walk in with Andy to touch base, see where his head was before the vote. And Genevieve leaves immediately. And I got that weird feeling where you’re just like, ‘Something’s happening. They are plotting. So I confirmed this with Andy. I’m like, ‘I feel weird, are we still good?’ And she didn’t sell it well so then I go back to Rachel, and I’m like, ‘Something’s not right.’
So I actually didn’t know that Lavo and Tuku were talking. Come to find out, they were even tossing Rachel’s name, not mine. Ultimately I think they decided we had to target Sam and Sierra, one of them had to go. Why was it me and not Sam? This is an unprecedented question. I got a lot of responses, whether it was Meet Shield’s answer, they wanted to keep Sam on board for those purposes. I was told I was the glue for Sam and Rachel. And then I know Andy ultimately decided he could work with Sam longer than he could work with me.
How did you feel about Andy betraying you?
it hurt. it was bad. But you have to respect it. I respect his game. Looking back on it, you’ll definitely say, ‘Damn.’ I was angry and you could see it. And then I became emotional with my last words. But, yes, it’s very sad where you feel like you’ve spent so much time building this relationship. It hurts when you’re on the other side of it.
And what happened when Rachel took her shot in the dark? What was going through your mind when this happened?
Before Tribal, Rachel and I were saying to each other like, ‘I don’t feel good.’ We say, ‘We feel weird,’ and we’re just telling each other that from across the shelter. I knew she didn’t feel safe. Neither of us were, so I could understand why she was playing her shot in the dark because she was so unsure. But I didn’t know he had an idol. So I have a few questions, like, ‘If you’re so unsure about the vote, why a shot in the dark and not Idol?’
You and Sam were presented as appearances, which was clearly not the case. How did your boyfriend react to her performance on the show?
This is difficult. It was really challenging for him to watch each week. Of course, I don’t think the editing made it that way, like, taking that route. But Justin will just have to sit back and watch it and listen to the other tribes say it. I mean, Kyle and Rome’s trip, it was like the third day and they were like, ‘Sam and Sierra are a couple. Are they dating?’ I’m like, what are we in second grade? It was just a joke to us.
But then, of course, when you’re watching it on national television and his colleagues are like, ‘Man, what is this?’ This is not something worth watching. So I understand. But ultimately, Sam was like a brother and childhood friend to me. So, it is what it is.
Do you regret anything? Starting Anika during pre-merge And allying with the boys?
I don’t really look back with much regret. I know this gets people stuck in a rut. But the thing was, I didn’t feel safe and comfortable with Anika and Rachel. Didn’t even come close to how I felt with Sam. I knew I was at rock bottom with Anika and Rachel – until now. They don’t even show it as much as it did when it came to the actual island. Rachel and Anika were always two, and it started from day one. I never felt like I could catch them. So why put Sam’s flapping wings at risk? I made several cases for Sam to vote for Andy vs. Anika, but it wasn’t working.
I will not continue to push, push, push and stir the pot just to be at the bottom of the trio. And then you hear it in Anika’s last words. ‘I’m more upset that they played me before I played,’ she says. I don’t know how loyal she would have been. I figured if Anika didn’t get me before she got me, I figured it was time.
“Survivor” airs Wednesday nights at 8pm ET on CBS.
