The ousted player also discusses having the most famous chin on reality TV.
She had an immunity idol.
She had a rock solid ally in Elie Scott.
Jeanine Zheng on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS
And she had gone through a tribemate’s bag and not gotten caught… or so she thought.
We spoke to Jeanine the morning after her televised ouster, and peppered with a batch of burning questions.
Was she indeed asking for her idol back at Tribal Council?
Jeanine Zheng on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS
What was her reaction when she found out Jesse actually had it?
And what exactly happened to her chin anyway?
Watch the entire interview above or read in below for answers galore!
Jeanine Zheng on ‘Survivor 43’.Robert Voets/CBS
(Also ensure toread our full episode recapand check out ahilarious, must-see exclusive deleted scene.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So Jeanine, why are you talking to me?
JEANINE ZHENG:Oh God.
Elie Scott and Jeanine Zheng on ‘Survivor’ 43.Robert Voets/CBS
[Laughs]It’s been a rough couple of episodes.
I’m talking to you because I’m first member of the jury.
I guess we’ll just start with the actual vote.
Were you surprised that Owen and Gabler voted you out as well, or did you see that coming?
It’s a yes and no question.
They voted with me the last time.
You and Elie trusted Sami and he just kept burning you both.
When did you finally piece it together that this dude was not your ally?
Up until this episode, I felt like I could trust Sami.
This is not a good place for me.
And that just wasn’t the case.
Look, there was a lot ofmisinformation in my exit interviewwith Dwight last week.
[Laughs]
So I want get to the bottom of last week’s Tribal.
Were you or were you not trying to get your idol back from Dwight during that Tribal Council?
Oh my God!"
No, in that moment, my heart just went out to Dwight.
I was really just thinking of him as a friend, as a person.
I couldfeelhim behind me just shaking so much.
I was not reaching for the idol.
So I was not trying to physically ascertain the idol back.
Well, we’ll see when that comes about, but I definitely did not realize.
I mean, you saw in this episode, I thought that my idol was flushed.
Everyone else on the episode also was like, “Wow, Jeanine got her idol flushed.”
And so just, it’s really Jesse’s secret to reveal.
Whenever you did find out, what was your reaction when you found out that Jesse had the idol?
I was like, that’s my baby!
And also, at least it’s still alive.
So I think those were my reactions.
So why would Dwight have handed it to Jesse instead of just holding onto it?
What was the thought process?
It already had been swapped once.
Did people think you were too close or something?
Dwight’s reasoning was that he was scared.
It was all in an effort to preserve my idol.
So it was well intentioned.
And he didn’t want to even tempt himself to do that.
The second reason was that exactly.
I think that the safest place to put it is Jesse’s pocket."
And that’s why he transferred it last minute and didn’t even tell me.
Didn’t tell anyone.
So that’s what happened.
I mean, how many crotches has that idol been in at this point?
[Laughs]I mean truly!
It needs a shower.
Okay, can we talk about the chin?
How does it feel now, first off?
It’s completely healed.
Thank you for asking.
I was guessing it was from that digging under that log.
Is that when it happened?
When you were digging under the log at the challenge?
It was literally day two.
And I don’t think people or viewers understand how difficult that log challenge is.
I mean, across the board for everyone.
Ryan said it was the hardest physical thing that he did.
And so that’s where you see that.
But I was like, there’s no way.
I could hear my tribe.
And I was like, “This cannot be the end of our challenge.
if I don’t come up the other side, for Baka, that’s it.”
And I was like, that can’t be.
What did medical do to help you with that post-challenge?
They did as much as they could.
They cleaned it with iodine.
They put like some anti-bacterial on it.
But there’s not really much out there that we’re given honestly.
And it was just a scrape.
I just sort of realized though, you don’t have any mirrors out there.
So you had no idea what it looked like.
And I think it’s actually better that way.
But it’s funny cause watching it back.
my whole tribe was like, “Oh, it doesn’t look that bad.”
And looking back on it, I’m like, “Thank you for sparing me.
But also you were completely lying to my face!”
Not the only thing they were lying about.
So Gabler kept telling everyone that Ellie went through his bag.
You were actually the one who went through the bag, although you and Elie were in cahoots.
So what were you thinking as that news started going around?
What were you doing and what were you thinking then?
We’re talking about the merge, right?
When he just spilled the beans to everyone.
Because at the end of the day, it wasn’t about the bag.
And everyone knew it was actually me who went through the bag.
But I do think the particulars around the bag was not what the whole issue was.
I’m really just like, “Can we stick together for this one vote?
Let’s not have a go at resurface all of this past hurt, past drama.
We really as a five worked so hard to be able to have five Baka members moving forward.
What was it like being on a tribe with Gabler?
Because he’s a wild card.
Sometimes he’s giving these weird speeches after challenges, other times he’s passed out for hours.
Seems like you don’t really know what you’re going to get.
What was it like for you dealing with that?
It was hilarious because he truly was like a mystery bag.
You never know what you’re going to get from Gabler.
That was most exciting about waking up every day on the Baka Beach.
And to me, honestly, I wasn’t bothered.
There was nothing about him.
I just found it hilarious, and he always made me laugh.
There’s so much that doesn’t make into the episode because they just don’t have enough time.
And a lot of it then doesn’t even make it.
What’s something we didn’t see that you wish had made it into an episode this season?
We need to work with her.”
And then we saw that kind of rapport going back and forth between our two tribes.
Well, I know a lot of people are sad to see you go.
Some might even call the vote…proposterous.
I am really trying to start the movement.
Second Chance for Jeanine right here.
Second chance for her chin!
