Matt Williams knew he was in bother on Survivor 49. A tribe reshuffling had left him within the minority on the brand new Hina tribe, with the four-person authentic Uli crew now operating the present. After his crew misplaced the immunity problem, he had two choices: keep quiet and hope for the most effective, or play aggressive and attempt to make a transfer to flip the script. Matt selected possibility B.

It didn’t work out as Matt floated taking out Nate Moore, however the Ulis stayed sturdy and determined to oust Matt as an alternative of different possibility Jason Treul. Does Matt remorse enjoying so aggressively? Does he really feel like he was accomplished in by the tribe swap? And are monetary managers really all sociopaths? We linked with the fifth individual out of the sport to realize perception and intel.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Have you ever heard from any Sandra Diaz-Twine followers but?

MATT WILLIAMS: I get so lots of these messages, however I don't even know the way to work the Instagram and TikTok. I try to coronary heart them and like them and do no matter, however I don't even learn the content material to be trustworthy with you.

Let’s get into it. Had been you screwed by the tribe swap?

For my part, completely! My pondering was to type of lay low, present for the tribe, don't piss anyone off, and get to the merge after which actually blow it open and begin enjoying my recreation. However yeah, that tribe swap. I seemed round at who had what colour buff and I used to be like, this, “This isn't gonna finish properly.” [Laughs]

What did you assume was going to occur once you confirmed up at Tribal Council?

I believed there's a 90% likelihood that that is it for me, however I used to be hanging on to the slim chance that Jawan was going to truly pull by and write down Nate's title. They didn't actually present how concerned Jawan and I's relationship was. We actually began it on the journey we went on. Jake, Jawan and I actually meshed, and we spent a while collectively and constructed an alliance and we have been going to get collectively on the merge. No one's going to know we're working collectively. It's going to be superior, it's going to be nice.

And, in fact, Jake together with his snake chunk goes residence and that screws that up a little bit bit. However Jawan and I have been nonetheless actually pleasant, and we went fishing for 3 hours at some point and talked stuff out and I actually thought he may do it. It simply was early within the recreation for an enormous transfer and the numbers have been clearly on his facet. I might see why he wouldn't do it.

'Survivor 49' recap: A tribe swap does not do wonders 'Survivor 49' exclusive deleted scene shows 'devastated' players stuck in the Twilight Zone

You stated you confirmed up at Tribal pondering it was most likely a 90 p.c likelihood that it was you going. Did you ever take into account enjoying your Shot within the Darkish?

No. I believed, “What if Jawan writes down Nate's title and we get this going, after which I throw my vote within the rubbish and roll a Shot within the Darkish? I'm going to appear like the most important chump in Survivor historical past.” So I simply thought, “I'm the place I'm at. It's not trying good, however that is my one path ahead. And if it really works out, it's going to be freaking superior!” I by no means even checked out my Shot within the Darkish. I by no means even thought-about it.

It seemed like your arms have been swinging in your method out. Did you neglect your bag at Tribal Council?

There’s one other factor that was unnoticed of the edit. We have been sleeping on that bamboo shelter, and it's so uncomfortable. You’re making an attempt to wedge articles of clothes between the bamboo, and also you noticed it in final night time's episode the place Sophi was in a position to make use of Nicole's sneakers that she had left there.

And I even informed Jawan, “If it's me, I'm going to depart my stuff and also you guys can use it. I obtained no use for this. What am I going to do with it again residence?” And so I deliberately left it there, however then they gave it to me! They stated, “You possibly can't depart this.” [Laughs] So yeah, I simply thought: “Effectively, there's my bag of stuff. Possibly they’ll use it to wedge it within the shelter and do one thing with it. No worth to me at this level.” However they handed it to me after I left.

You must have left it again at camp.

Yeah, I suppose when you depart it at camp, it's honest recreation, however I had it with me at Tribal.

So the massive query I feel on everybody's thoughts this morning is: What did you find yourself having extra of at Ponderosa, Cheeseburgers or beer?

I feel an equal quantity of every. I really gave up consuming for the present. I needed to lose some weight and get in form. At Ponderosa, I wasn't even within the temper for a beer. It's a shaggy dog story. They requested me, “What would you like as your welcome again to the world [meal].”

I stated, “I need a bacon cheeseburger.” After which as an afterthought, I stated, “With grilled onions.” I suppose one thing was misplaced in interpretation. They thought I needed like an eggplant or vegetarian burger. I opened up my burger and there was nothing however a s— ton of grilled onions on it and no beef patty. In order that was my welcome again to the world meal — an enormous grilled onion and cheese sandwich.

Do you agree that monetary department managers are “sociopaths’?

[Laughs] I don’t know the place she got here up with that, however I'll inform you — the blue collar crowd is much more all the way down to earth. I don't miss company America in any respect. I actually get pleasure from working class. They're… I don't wish to say higher individuals, however they're extra my pace. I’d by no means return to the white-collar world.

What occurred on the steadiness beam at that final problem?

I feel I used to be simply making an attempt to get there too quick. In truth, I do know that's what I did. As quickly as I slowed down, it wasn't laborious. It’s a straightforward factor to get throughout there. I put myself in that position pondering we have to win this problem, and I don't need any person else screwing it up for me. So I volunteered for that specific position as a result of it appeared a pivotal position within the problem. After which I'm the one who screwed it up!

I fell off that factor 3 times, and actually, it was simply the adrenaline. I used to be all “I obtained to haul ass throughout this factor!” If I’d've simply stated, “Oh, this can be a piece of cake,” and simply slowly walked throughout it, it could've been a chunk of cake. It’s this bizarre mindset you're in once you're in the midst of a problem, your mind simply type of turns off and also you don't assume it by.

I adopted you on a reasonably prolonged idol hunt on day 2 that by no means made it to air. How a lot idol searching have been you doing on the market?

Each second I obtained. In truth, Steven pulled me apart and stated, “Hey, bro, you possibly can't hold disappearing. Persons are noticing.” I used to be trying so laborious for an idol. I'd go to catch crabs or gather snails or get firewood, and what would take three minutes to do would take me 20 minutes as a result of I might hit each tree and each path and each rock there.

Numerous that by no means made the present There's a complete bunch of survival sort stuff, and on the lookout for idols is one in all many examples that simply didn't make the edit. I suppose it was simply by the point they edit these items, they know once I left. And I suppose it didn't actually contribute to the storyline.

What’s one thing else that occurred on the market that didn't make it to air that you just want we had seen?

My tribe was really calling me Survivor MacGyver. The outdoorsy stuff is simply straightforward for me. I've been doing it for my complete life. I grew up exterior. I believed they’d loads of footage that might make me appear like a extremely cool, resourceful man, they usually by no means confirmed any of it. I used to be identical to, “Okay, no matter.” It's identical to I obtained purple edited out. It’s simply type of kinda disheartening. However I suppose they're extra considering hiding sneakers than survival expertise.

It's the perils of being on a successful tribe. The successful tribe, you by no means see as a lot.

That’s true. We knew we weren't going to get a complete lot of airtime. They’ve obtained to concentrate on the fellows which are going to Tribal that night time. After which once I did go to Tribal, that was my solely shot.

You made this play to get MC into your four-person alliance on authentic Hina since you favored what she was fabricated from, so what was it wish to see her on the present saying how she didn’t belief you and instantly operating to Sophie to inform her about your plan?

It’s Survivor. That’s how it’s. I used to be actually curious to see the opposite conversations that have been happening. However instantly once I was speaking with Kristina and Steven, the very first thing I stated is, “I would like MC in on this.” And since I knew she would really feel like we introduced her in because the fourth to our group of three, I instantly went to her.

However apparently even 30 seconds later is sufficient to get that thought course of going about, “Hey, they're three already and now they're coming to me.” Though I actually did instantly go to her. It was simply, she wasn't there in the course of the preliminary dialog. In order that's the place she took it. And I can perceive her thought course of.

You had the Part alliance you tried to kind with Jawan. Was there a reputation for the unique Hina alliance?

You realize what? There was! I can't even bear in mind what it was. Kristina got here up with one thing. I can't bear in mind what it was. One other factor that obtained minimize is on day 1, Steven and I shaped a remaining three alliance that Steven. We have been the Early Birds, and he would all the time go “Chip, chip, chip chip…” each time we walked by. That by no means made the edit. However I informed Steven, “You bought two guys working collectively. We'll win this recreation. We'll simply go to the tip and also you and I’ll make hearth in opposition to one another on the finish.” And that was our factor. I used to be speaking with Steven after the sport and he was like, “I used to be so on board with that.”

Should you might return and alter one factor, what wouldn’t it be?

I’d've been extra in your face. I’d've performed like Rome from 47. I’d've hit the sand like Tony when he simply ran off like a banshee into the bushes to search out an idol. I’d've performed it extra not like I wish to be a actuality TV star, however I wish to be seen.

I simply type of thought I did the other of that. I used to be like, “I'm going to fly below the radar.” I want I’d've been like Jake together with his shoe bandit gags. I’d've been doing stuff that made it enjoyable and obtained me seen is what I’d've accomplished completely different.

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