The ousted player also reveals there was supposed to be a split vote plan in place at Tribal Council.
When Danny did, Brandon was voted out.
But there’s more to the story that we didn’t see.
Brandon Cottom on ‘Survivor 44’.Robert Voets/CBS
Watch the entire interview above or read it below.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s start by talking about the logistics of what went down at that Tribal Council.
Did you all talk about the possibility of an idol being played?
Carolyn Wiger, Brandon Cottom, and Danny Massa on ‘Survivor 44’.Robert Voets/CBS
BRANDON COTTOM:We did talk about the possibility of an idol being played.
It actually goes back to last week.
So we knew that there was a possibility one of ‘em had it.
The Rotu tribe of ‘Survivor 44’.Robert Voets/CBS
We just didn’t know who it was.
So I thought we had a plan.
That was on me for not double checking with everybody before we went to Tribal.
Brandon Cottom on ‘Survivor 44’.Robert Voets/CBS
We actually started painting the Va Va flag, and completely lost track of time.
Next thing you know, time to go to Tribal.
And I’m like,Oh, I didn’t check in with literally anybody.
So that was a hundred percent my fault.
I can’t blame on anybody else.
It was a great move by Danny, and I probably would’ve done the same thing.
It was just never determined.
I’m going to vote for Frannie.
This person does this."
So as those votes were being read, I’m like,Alright, Frannie, Frannie, Frannie.
I’m like,Well, that’s too many Frannie votes.
And I already knew what was coming after that.
Next thing, I saw my name and I was like,Yep, they got me.
So we did think it was a possibility.
Or they already knew what the plan was and they were coddling me until we got to that point.
After Danny played his idol for Frannie, what did you think was going to happen on the vote?
I actually thought that we split the votes.
It’s funny they didn’t show it, but I actually look over to Lauren.
I’m like, “He has no idea.”
‘Cause I’m thinking he played it for Frannie, and we have a plan for this.
And I’m like,It’s gonna be me.
That’s the thing.
And I just didn’t play it right, because I can’t remember.
I didn’t want to ruin what I thought was an alliance between me and him for further gameplay.
So I purposely said that I wasn’t going to vote for Danny.
We had so many conversations that day.
I can’t remember who I said what to.
At the end of the day, I didn’t double check with anybody.
So I can’t even answer that question.
Tell me what you were feeling after seeing your name come up and then getting your torch snuffed.
It was a bittersweet moment.
It’s one of those moments where you think you have everything figured out.
It’s my turn.
So it’s bittersweet.
You’re appreciative to be out there.
But nobody wants to get that torch snuffed at the end of the day.
That was my only little victory in that moment, to be honest.
What can you say about you two partnering up in this game?
Me and Lauren actually got really close very, very early on.
In that first Tribal, I actually knew that she had an extra vote.
She did tell me shortly after we all kind of dispersed.
So she was kind of trying to play both sides.
So that’s when our alliance really started to form.
From there on out, it really just became, let’s give a shot to get Ratu strong.
At that point, we had never lied to each other.
But there was obviously a little bit of bad blood between me and Kane.
Obviously, there’s so much going on and there’s so much that they have to show.
They let it play out how it needed to play out.
How quickly did you regret opening the birdcage in front of the entire tribe?
Why’d you tell her?"
It’s funny, because when I actually found the [key] I tried to hide it.
What you might not see: I tried to hide it.
That’s when you see me standing there with it and it looks like a bulge in my pants.
I grabbed it before it fell on the ground and Maddy was already circling around me.
I knew she saw it.
She later confirmed me that yes, she did see it.
I did think it was probably an advantage, but I didn’t think it was an idol.
This is ammo against him.
I can either use it against him or I could play with him.
But that was up to her to decide, not me.
So I was like, you know what?
This is what it is.
We’ll figure out what it is together."
And then as soon as I opened it up, I regretted it immediately.
It was a bittersweet moment.
Obviously, everybody who playsSurvivor, you want to find the idol.
I just didn’t want it to be public knowledge on day 1.
There are some people on this season who areSurvivorobsessives who have studied every episode.
I got the feeling you were not one of those people.
What was your relationship to the show and how did you end up on it?
I’m a casualSurvivorwatcher.
Me and my dad, we started watching very early on when I was younger.
We watched every season together.
After I moved away to college, that’s when I kind of fell off.
I didn’t have cable, I just had a lot going on with football and other things.
I didn’t really watch much TV.
That’s when we started watching again.
Sign up to be onSurvivor."
My dad was like, “it’s crucial that you go ahead and put your audition in.”
I was like, “You know what, why not?
Let’s do it and see what happens.”
Honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I made because it’s been an amazing experience.
I met some amazing people.
I love everybody on our cast.
I think we have a great group of people.
So I’m blessed to have been on this season and I’m very thankful for the opportunity.
With whom did you want to sit at the end with had you made it to the final 3?
In my head, I would’ve probably said I wanted Lauren sitting next to me.
That third spot was kind of up in the air and really depended on how it played out.
I would’ve probably had to say Lauren and Jaime, honestly.
What’s harder, NFL training camp orSurvivor?
They both have their difficulties.Survivoris different in a whole different way.
So it’s way more of a mental game.
From that regard, I’d probably saySurvivor, honestly.
