‘Survivor 47’ finalist Sam Phalen shares how it felt getting backstabbed by Sierra Wright

In Survivor 47, Sam Phalen’s journey to the final Tribal Council was full of ups and downs, but the finale on Dec. 18 left fans shocked when Sam only received a single vote — a pity vote from Kyle Ostwald — instead of from his closest ally, Sierra Wright. While Rachel LaMont’s victory was well-deserved, having tied the record for the most individual immunity wins by a woman in a single season, the real surprise came when Sierra, who had been Sam’s ride-or-die throughout much of the game, voted for Rachel instead of him.

At the start of Survivor 47, Sam and Sierra were a strong duo on the Gata tribe, and their alliance was key to controlling Tribal Councils early in the game. However, their close bond eventually became a target, leading to Sam being blindsided and voted out as the first member of the jury. As a juror, Sierra had a front-row seat to the finale and was expected to support Sam in the final vote, but instead, she cast her vote for Rachel.

Sam was understandably hurt by the betrayal, telling Entertainment Weekly, “It stung” to see that Sierra had voted for Rachel instead of him. He elaborated, explaining that he felt like he had been playing the game not just for himself but for both of them, as they had been such a close team throughout the season. Despite this disappointment, Sam acknowledged that in Survivor, players vote for various reasons, and you can never guarantee a vote from someone, even an ally.

However, unlike Survivor 46, where Maria Shrime Gonzalez’s controversial vote for Kenzie Petty caused her to lose her friendship with Charlie Davis, Sam confirmed that he and Sierra are still on good terms and remain friendly.

While Sam’s vote from Sierra might have been a blow, it doesn’t seem to have affected their relationship beyond the game. If you’re feeling the post-Survivor 47 blues, the season is available to stream on Paramount Plus for those looking to relive the drama and intensity of the season.

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