“Survivor 45” Runner-Up Austin Li Coon Reacts to His Loss and Addresses the Future of His Romance with Dee Valladares
Austin Li Coon’s journey on “Survivor 45” closely mirrored the experience of iconic contestants Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich on “Survivor: All-Stars.” Just like Boston Rob, Austin played a strategic game, formed a showmance, and ultimately came in second place to his partner, Dee Valladares. In a recent interview, Austin shared his thoughts on his gameplay, the shocking revelation at the final Tribal Council, and the current status of his relationship with Dee.
Admitting that he knew the jury was leaning towards Dee’s favor, Austin hoped that he could sway the vote with his story and strategic moves. He felt that some of his crucial moves went unnoticed or were forgotten by the jury, and he believed he had a shot at winning if he could effectively present his case during the final Tribal Council.
Austin expressed surprise at the unexpected votes he received and acknowledged that he felt outmaneuvered by Dee’s bombshell revelation about the lie regarding the Julie Alley immunity idol play. He revealed that he had an inkling that Dee had lied, but he tried to convince himself otherwise due to the potential ramifications for his own game. Despite feeling like a “fool” initially, Austin believed he was able to explain his actions to the jury and salvage some of his position.
When asked about his decision to tell Dee about the Julie vote, Austin stated that he was concerned about how it would affect his standing in the game, especially with Drew and Emily. He believed that withholding the information could have shifted the game in favor of his allies, potentially jeopardizing his own position.
Reflecting on the potential alternate outcomes, Austin discussed the pivotal moments in the game and acknowledged the impact of various strategic moves. He also shared thoughts on Katurah’s last-second vote change and the potential implications it could have had on the game’s dynamics.
Regarding his relationship with Dee, Austin mentioned that they preferred to keep their current status private, given the recent airing of the finale and the whirlwind of attention. He also shared a lighthearted moment from their time on the original Reba tribe that didn’t make it to air, highlighting the fun and quirky dynamics among the contestants.
Looking towards the future, Austin expressed a readiness to play again if given the opportunity, emphasizing the value of more preparation time before entering the game.
As fans await further updates on Austin and Dee’s post-show romance and potential future “Survivor” appearances, the pair has kept the audience intrigued with their journey both on and off the island.