Thomas Krottinger, the 4th person voted out of Survivor 48, talks with Parade following his elimination.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00I mean, the first thing I have to ask is, uh, I'm not sure if you've, uh, checked out
00:04any TikToks that have gone viral, but how do you feel knowing that, uh, Chaperone doesn't
00:08need to watch Survivor anymore?
00:10That's so funny.
00:12Yeah.
00:13Kayleigh was like, not stoked on watching, I guess.
00:17That was, that was a funny, I, when someone sent me that, um, it made me chuckle.
00:22And then Kayleigh's creative director is this amazing woman named Misha.
00:26And she, she literally hit me last night being like, I'm finally watching.
00:29And I was like, intense, intense night to start, but yeah, that's funny.
00:34I mean, let's talk about this intense way to end.
00:37Uh, now look, you got faced with a barrage of advantages coming your way and you had
00:43one.
00:44And polls.
00:45And polls, exactly.
00:46Uh, and you were left with more than a black eye by the end of it, but you did have one
00:50in your pocket as well.
00:51And you said if something freaky deaky was happening at tribal council, you would use
00:55your vote steals.
00:56So was there a moment in retrospect that you could have picked up on what led you to
01:00eventually say I'm good for tonight?
01:03Okay.
01:04So I'm old school.
01:05I'm like an old school, hardcore Alliance.
01:09Let's go to the fucking end together.
01:10Oh, sorry.
01:11Let's go to the end together.
01:12Okay, great.
01:13I'm kind of a player and I worked really hard to have the California girls feel like very
01:19much a safe Alliance for me.
01:23Like I knew that Joe and Shaheen probably were one and two above me and I was the third
01:28person on that.
01:29So I wasn't gonna in no way, shape or form was I going to reveal the fact that I lied
01:35about my advantage unless I absolutely had to.
01:39So when we got to the beach and Kyle and Camilla are like the second I'm not around coming
01:44up my throat to the boys and I get back and the boys tell me everything that happened,
01:49I'm like, okay, great.
01:50So if I tell him now they're gonna freak out, but like, maybe we won't go to tribal.
01:56And I was like, this is a pretty stacked team, right?
01:59Wrong.
02:00The Vula curse is real.
02:02And by the time that we're going to tribal, it's it's chaotic.
02:07Camilla's pretending to be on the bottom.
02:09Kyle keeps saying Siva strong, the boys really want Kyle out, it would be it would be it
02:16would completely shatter my trust with the boys moving forward.
02:21Like if I play that advantage, I know that it would have cost me my alliance.
02:25And it would have kind of crumbled the game that I was building and playing.
02:30And it was all for what I felt like it was a one in six shot that Kyle had an idol.
02:35Like if Kyle had an idol, I knew that I was probably going home.
02:38That was it.
02:39So I was like, I'm gonna roll the dice and take those odds.
02:46Because if I could get through that tribal without Kyle having an idol and survive, I
02:51think it puts me in a really good position long term in the game.
02:55So what made you so sure that Kyle or that one in six chances you were saying didn't
02:59have an idol?
03:00Was it the bag searching?
03:01Was it the way that he was sort of behaving?
03:04That terrible bag searching?
03:06Terrible bag searching?
03:08You shouldn't have handed it off to another person, you know, once I'm done doing it yourself.
03:13Yeah, that is very, very true.
03:15But you know, I didn't want to get my hands dirty.
03:17Camilla was sitting right there.
03:18And I was like, I don't trust her.
03:20That's the other thing you don't see is that like, I really was pushing for Camilla.
03:24Like, I like clocked her as like your problem.
03:27I mean, Kyle's a problem too.
03:29But Camilla, I was like, oof, issues.
03:33I'm sorry, what was the question?
03:35So did the bag search really like cement for you?
03:38Oh, it did.
03:39The bag search was meaningless to me.
03:41I had the advantage like, like squirreled in my underwear.
03:44I knew that if Kyle had an idol, it was going to be tucked somewhere or was going to do
03:47you know what I mean?
03:48Like if Kyle left his idol when it turns out he kind of he left in a shoe create like Kyle,
03:53if you're watching this like what's risky, bro.
03:58I just wasn't expecting it to be in there.
04:00If that makes sense.
04:01I thought he was going to be very good at keeping it a secret.
04:05Well, let's rewind a little bit because like you said, you had all the pieces at Loggi
04:10and I want to address some of those pieces.
04:12I mean, let's start with the big one here.
04:14If you had lost a challenge in those first three episodes, and you went to the council
04:20because like, we see you were trying to work on something with Star and Bianca, but you
04:23knew Bianca didn't have a vote.
04:25What would you have done in that scenario?
04:27Well, oh, for like, are we talking like day seven?
04:31Yeah, day seven, like had you gone to or let's say there wasn't a swap and Loggi did go to
04:36tribal council at some point.
04:37Okay, so Bianca not having a vote, that's my number one priority is to protect her.
04:43I knew what was most likely the code for Star's beware advantage.
04:48So if I needed to open it, I could give it to her.
04:52But if we went to tribal, and I'm protecting Bianca, and she has no vote, and I know Eva
04:59wants Star out, and the boys feel comfortable with Star, I'm going to leave that thing locked.
05:05And it's like, go be with the moon.
05:07Do you know what I mean?
05:09Like, goodbye, I love you.
05:11But that's in that moment, right?
05:13Where it's like, my priority is keeping Bianca in because I need her.
05:18So like, whatever, no swap, we go to tribal, I think it's Star with because she has no
05:22vote and we can control it.
05:24That's so interesting.
05:26You had, for all intents and purposes, figured out what the idol was, you just chose to kind
05:32of withhold that information and let Star figure it out by herself?
05:35Yeah, well, I mean, we were like me, Shaheen, Bianca, Joe, we're all kind of working on
05:43this together.
05:44And once we figured it out, there was a discussion of, do we open it for Star?
05:49Or do we not open it for Star?
05:51And there was one moment where I think it was Shaheen was like, okay, let's open it.
05:56And I was like, baby girl, why would we do that?
06:00Why would the person you want to vote out?
06:01You want to be like, here's your idol, please take it.
06:05Like no.
06:06So I was petitioning to keep it very much closed.
06:09Yeah, talk to me a bit more until we needed it.
06:11Well, we obviously see this moment, right?
06:14Where you even suggest something beyond that the first time of like, well, this is a really
06:18nice looking disc.
06:19It'd be a shame if it got lost.
06:20And Shaheen got a little a little spooked by that.
06:23We got some fan reaction from it as well as to like, is this you know, too far?
06:28What was your perspective on on being so open with that?
06:31Okay, well, number one, I didn't feel like it was like super open.
06:35It was me and Shaheen and Shaheen was probably like other than Bianca, the person that I
06:41was working with the closest, right?
06:43Because Shaheen sees the Joe Eva thing.
06:46And like in Shaheen's brain, it's him and Joe and me right underneath.
06:51But he sees Eva as a threat, right?
06:52So then he looks at me as like, are we doing this and he knows I have Bianca.
06:57But we have a very special relationship.
06:58So he said other crazy things to me, like that weren't not crazy, but like, we were
07:03plotting Eva's demise.
07:05Do you know what I mean?
07:07At some points, so him showing me that and me being like, what if it disappears?
07:12I didn't feel that crazy based on our relationship.
07:16And also, I just like maybe like, do you remember in Pearl Islands, like Rupert's like stealing
07:21the other people's stuff like yeah, me like saying like, I will send this out to see and
07:28like we now control the book like, I was like, it doesn't seem that crazy.
07:32But I guess when you're watching and especially in the new era and with everybody on the other
07:36tribes being like, so here's my social security number, like, all of this stuff, like honesty,
07:43I guess it does make it look a little villainous.
07:46Well, talk to me about your relationship with Bianca because he had the two of you clicked
07:51from the beginning I used to that point about information and sort of asymmetry, right?
07:56She comes to you being like, Oh, by the way, I lied.
07:58I don't have a vote.
07:59And you're like, Okay, I've been completely open with you.
08:02So don't worry about it.
08:03So talk to me about that dynamic that you had.
08:06Well, okay, the truth is that I feel like Bianca probably knew that I was lying to her.
08:11But she trusted me so much that she knew that that my lies would never hurt her.
08:16Like if that makes sense.
08:19And that is the truth.
08:21Like I would use my advantage to keep her in the game without hesitation.
08:26Like that girl is loyal.
08:28Like she needs more screen time.
08:30She is an icon like she is so funny and whip smart.
08:34And like, I would play the game 100 times over and pick her as my number one every time
08:39like she is incredible.
08:41I got lucky.
08:42I don't know what production was doing putting us two bitches on the same tribe.
08:45That was crazy.
08:46Also, it's nuts that she and I were the weakest ones.
08:49I'm like, What?
08:50I'm like, I'm like, not a schlub.
08:52But fine.
08:53Like Loggie was jacked.
08:54Um, yeah, Bianca is just she's fantastic.
08:57I can't say enough great things that's like justice for Bianca, if I'm being honest.
09:02Absolutely.
09:03Let's talk about maybe some of those jack people you were referencing.
09:06Let's talk about how the California girls came together from the beginning to the end.
09:10I mean, you vocalize this on the show, right?
09:11That like, an all male alliance is was at the bottom of your list of expectations on
09:16survivors.
09:17So how did this end up gelling so naturally in the beginning?
09:19Well, Joe and shocking are like really special people.
09:23They're um, like, Joe, my relationship with Joe opened me up to like a new side of myself,
09:30like, the way he's a father, the way he talks about being a father, like, we connected
09:35on a level that I wasn't anticipating for like, like a 40 something year old, like hot
09:41firefighter dad, I was I thought like, whatever.
09:44He was just so caring and sweet.
09:46Like he makes me like, I want to have kids because of him, like he like changed my perspective
09:51on my life.
09:53So he's just like, very present and right there.
09:54And then shot he is just like, like a puppy dog, like a ball of energy, like, I don't
10:00I would never truly like I didn't, like, you can't trust him, but you love him, if that
10:05makes sense.
10:06And so even though I never thought I was going to work with men, and I like actively didn't
10:10want to work with men.
10:11You also have to look at like, like the other options on my tribe, like obviously Bianca
10:16Queen, Eva, she's talked about how she like plays on the male hockey team, she prefers
10:20work with dudes, which like, hello, dude, but also probably not like the hockey player
10:25dude that she would normally want to go for.
10:30But we did connect on about her sis, like so much stuff that even I were always cool.
10:34And then I love Star, but she'd never wanted, she never truly opened up to me.
10:38And I think that there was a moment where she was, she started, she like, she started
10:42playing hard and going and looking for idols quickly, which created a very natural, like,
10:47whoa, what are you doing?
10:49So then it was like, you have those dynamics, and then I have these two lovable men, like,
10:54why wouldn't I just like pick those girlies up?
10:57And also night one, we were like, sleeping on the beach, and we were talking about how
11:01we all live in California.
11:02And I was like, yet again, what is production doing?
11:05Like they're giving me these like, sweet little California boys.
11:08And then this like, New Jersey Queen, like, what?
11:12Like I was, it was good.
11:14Life was good on Loggie.
11:16And for the record, I love Star, like I wanted to work with her.
11:19But it was just like, the idol thing made things go so complicated.
11:23And I felt like she came to me last about the idol.
11:27So like, what am I supposed to do with that information?
11:30But yeah, I could have, there was a way when I could have figured out working with all
11:34of them.
11:35But yeah, the men thing is just insane.
11:36Well, yeah, talk to me a bit about that.
11:39Because, you know, at the time you went out, you were only a couple of votes away from
11:42the merge.
11:43I'm sure even when you were on Loggie, and there was no sign of you stopping, you were
11:45already considering what to do there.
11:47Did you have any ideas in your head of like, would you go California girls into the end?
11:52Would you want to cut those loyal boys at a certain point?
11:57I would have taken Bianca to the end without hesitation.
12:03Like, I am like a Black Widow brigade girly where it's like, I want all of like, I would
12:10want Final Four to be me, Joe, Shaheen and Bianca.
12:14And like, I think there would be an art if we all got there, I think there would be an
12:18argument of like, who is in the middle of this alliance, and made it work if we got
12:22all the way to the end.
12:23So I feel good about that.
12:27But no, I, yeah, I wasn't gonna I had no plans on cutting those boys, or Bianca anytime soon.
12:36Anytime soon.
12:37I'm old school, bro.
12:38Well, you know, you end up giving a rather fitting sort of like eulogy to Kyle and Camilla
12:44by talking about like, if I were them, I look back on this experience, you know, with
12:48gratitude.
12:49And indeed, even despite the shock of what happened, you were sort of verifying the statement
12:53you made before.
12:54Can you elaborate a bit more on like, what were some of those big things that you did
12:59learn about yourself those life changing moments out on the island?
13:03It's interesting, because I feel like a lot of people synthesize their survivor experience
13:07when it's over.
13:08And I feel like I was synthesizing it while playing.
13:12Like, when I'd be sleeping, like on the beach at night when it would be like, intense before
13:18a challenge, and the tents are like hot and gross.
13:20And like, everybody's nervous, you know what's going on.
13:23And I just remember standing in a tent one day, and it was disgusting.
13:27And I just was like, what the fuck am I doing?
13:29Like, this is so insane.
13:31Like, I'm like, sweating my balls off in Fiji with these like, five strangers, I'm about
13:37to go on an obstacle course and like do a puzzle on national television where I could
13:41lose and then go home and embarrass myself.
13:44And I was just going through those moments and I was like, I'm so much stronger than
13:49I thought I was.
13:51I have so much less fear than I thought I had.
13:54I believe in myself so much more than I did.
13:57I have this sense of confidence that I think I project, but don't really have, you know,
14:02like imposter syndrome.
14:05And so when we were at Tribal, and Jeff asked the question of like, how can you crush someone's
14:11dream?
14:12Like, how can you go into that voting booth and write down someone's name?
14:15It just was so obvious to me that he wasn't even like, really, he was really talking to
14:19Kyle and Camilla, and not really talking to us.
14:21And I like interjected, I remember being like Jeff.
14:24And I just like had to express it because I don't know, something compelled me like,
14:30it's just the game has given me so much, it's changed my life.
14:35That it felt kind of like if it was my night, I needed to say it and and express the gratitude,
14:41which is also weird for me, because I'm not this like gratitude person.
14:44I'm like, like, kill or be killed, win or lose, like, like number one hit or like bust.
14:50Do you know what I mean?
14:53And so when I was like, experiencing this, like profound shift, I kind of had to, I had
14:57to express it, get it out.
14:59Well, you talk about life changing.
15:01I want to, you know, start with one celebrity and with another and you and I talked about
15:05this a bit offline.
15:06But you know, when you and I were talking out there on the island, you had said how
15:10obsessed you were with the idea that Sarah Michelle Gellar was a survivor fan.
15:15And I want you to give everyone a bit of an update because there is one about Sarah Michelle
15:21Gellar.
15:22Okay, like a little loud.
15:26I got I got the DM from SMG like, what?
15:30Like insane.
15:31Yeah, that was a crazy moment.
15:34And like, also knowing that my demise was coming so soon.
15:39I literally in my head, I was like, just in the nick of time, baby, like just in the nick
15:44of time.
15:45Like, you're seeing me like do great.
15:47Like, yeah, that's insane.
15:49Like literally, yeah, we talked about Sarah on the island.
15:52Yeah, because I said she can't be my visit my family visit.
15:55No, I'm choosing Dorinda.
15:56Yeah.
15:57But I mean, the thing is, is that I don't know if you checked in with her.
16:01She might be so astounded by Kyle and Camilla's acting skills that now she has a new favorite.
16:05No, I'll get I'll get you the update.
16:08Also, for the record, I would like to point out that when they started that grand play,
16:13I was not at the shelter.
16:15I think I was on a walk.
16:17And I was watching that and I was like, these bitches are so lucky I wasn't there.
16:23Because I just like watching that start like they were they are amazing.
16:27Obviously, they're incredible.
16:28But like that started off and had I been there, like, I think that I would have figured
16:34it out.
16:35Well, they're amazing.
16:37Listen, regardless of when we got the chance to talk, you know, I am always so grateful
16:42to do so.
16:43I mean, I'm sure you have experienced so much acclaim from the community about just how
16:46great of a personality you are.
16:48Like you said, your ability to get your hands dirty or hand off a bag to get someone else's
16:52hands dirty.
16:53Like you truly embraced this experience, no matter how long it lasted with the full sense
16:58of self.
17:00And I hope the fact that you know, we have received it so well is a reflection of who
17:04you are as a person too.
17:06And that extends to this conversation.
17:08You know how much I adored a the chance to, to talk with you to catch up from, you know,
17:12just, just talking about SMG as loved ones visit to now getting the DM for her what a
17:17different nine months makes casual.
17:20It's like, honestly, I the response has been super overwhelming.
17:24I feel gratitude, obviously.
17:28But I think the thing that kind of blows my mind is when I watch the show, I do feel like
17:33it's like actually me up there.
17:36And like that was something I was a goal of mine was going into the game and being myself
17:41and like letting people see me and I think I did that and the response has been like
17:46overwhelmingly, like incredible.
17:49And it's been completely earned.
17:51So thank you as always for bringing your full self not only on the island, but in this conversation
17:56as always, I always relish the time we get to chat and it will not be the last time.
18:00So I'm really looking forward to when that comes.
18:02And thank you so much again.
18:05Of course.
18:06Have a good one, Thomas.
18:07Thanks.
18:08Bye bye.
18:09Bye.