
Teeny Chirichillo’s Survivor 47 journey has been full of challenges, but the New Jersey native has fought through adversity to make it to the final four. Alongside Rachel LaMont, Sam Phalen, and Sue Smey, Teeny will compete for the million-dollar prize and the title of “Sole Survivor” on the finale tonight, December 18. However, Teeny’s road to the finale was far from easy.
Despite making their tribemates laugh with internet memes and having fun during reward challenges, Teeny faced a tough time on Survivor 47. They lost key allies like Aysha Welch, Kishan Patel, and Sol Yi throughout the game. Still, Teeny’s ability to connect with others socially helped them survive week after week, dodging elimination. However, things took a turn when Teeny’s frustration over being excluded from a reward challenge led to a huge outburst that nearly cost them the game.
To set the scene, after winning a reward challenge, Sam Phalen chose to bring Andy Rueda and Genevieve Mushaluk to the Survivor sanctuary for an Italian feast. Teeny was furious about not being invited and had a complete meltdown back at camp. They lashed out at Sam, calling him one of the “stupidest Survivor players ever” and mocking his voice and mannerisms. This outburst didn’t sit well with the rest of the tribe.
Teeny later had to walk back their harsh words, as Sam, Andy, and Genevieve pulled off a game-changing move. They blindsided Caroline Vidmar and, in the process, Teeny, Rachel, and Sue. The plan, dubbed “Operation Italy,” was hatched during the reward feast, and it shook Teeny to the core.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Teeny reflected on their low point in the game: that meltdown over pizza. “I completely lost control and allowed some insecurities to take over,” Teeny admitted. “It wasn’t even about Sam — who I actually got along with really well — but I let it all spill out in a way that wasn’t true to who I am.”
Teeny was also hit hard when they learned about “Operation Italy,” realizing just how much they had been in the dark. “To live in a false reality so confidently, only to find out how much I had misunderstood, was like the biggest dose of humble pie,” they said. “I’ll be learning from that for a long time.”
While Teeny made some significant mistakes in the game’s later stages, it’s unclear if they’ll take home the grand prize tonight. But the second part of the Survivor finale will reveal whether Teeny can overcome these past missteps to secure the win. Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS to find out how it all unfolds, with next-day streaming on Paramount Plus.