The reality hit Survivor is a game all about outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting your opponents so it’s jarring when a castaway makes the decision to quit. Superfans try for years to make it on to the reality show, making contestants that voluntarily depart from the game an annoyance to those watching at home, vying for their own chance at competing for a million dollars.
Most times when a player quits it is because they’ve simply had enough of the elements and the people they've been living with. Other times, circumstances such as emotional turmoil or health concerns can lead a contestant to exit the show with plenty of game left to play. Not all quits are memorable, as most are pre-merge and pretty quickly glossed over, but some have had major impacts on particular seasons or set precedents for future players.
Julie McGee (San Juan Del Sur)
Julie McGee competed on the second Blood Vs Water season of Survivor, this time with a cast composed of new players and their loved ones. She was the girlfriend of John Rocker, a former baseball player who had a loudmouth and a sharp tongue that didn’t sit right with his tribemates or opponents.
After John was voted out, Julie felt like she was being targeted and alienated for being an extension of him. After an incident involving her stealing some trail mix from the merge feast, Julie felt it necessary to remove herself from the game as she didn’t feel like she had a chance of winning and was just putting herself through a hard time for nothing. Her exit was regarded as Trail Mix Gate, and hilarious because nobody really seemed to care that she left as she didn’t really have any alliances or close friends from her starting tribe.
Janu Tornell (Palau)
While Janu Tornell got herself voted off of Survivor, it was an exit that has largely been regarded as a quit.
After experiencing some time by herself in exile as a result of being first out of a challenge, Jane realized she had accomplished all she needed to in the game and was ready to leave. This upset her alliance members, as they were ready to vote out the biggest threat in Stephenie LaGrossa. However, Janu’s quit spared Stephenie and gave her three more days to fight for her life in the game.
Jenna Morasca (All-Stars)
Jenna Morasca won Survivor: The Amazon, and returned for the first-ever all-star season. However, it was clear from the first day that her heart wasn’t in it and she was battling with some inner guilt for coming back to play a second time.
Turns out, Jenna’s mother was sick at home and her days were numbered. This was weighing on her to the point where she couldn’t fully play the game, and on Day 9 she made the decision to leave so she could be with her mother. It was the right call, as Jenna’s mom passed away about a week after she got back. It was the first quit by a former winner and one that was supported and encouraged by her peers.
Kathy Sleckman (Micronesia)
Kathy Sleckman pulled herself from the game just days before the merge in the first edition of Survivor: Fans Vs Favorites.
After making friends with a lot of the favorite players and spending a long time on Exile Island, Kathy realized the game was getting to her and suffered a breakdown. It was later explained that Kathy was experiencing withdrawals from lack of her prescribed medication, causing her to have a difficult time within the game. Her tribemates were sad to see her go, as were fans who were cheering her on, but her decision was supported and she was kissed goodbye on her way out.
Sue Hawk (All-Stars)
In one of Survivor's most serious moments and controversies, Sue Hawk famously quit All-Stars in front of everyone following a challenge the day prior.
At said challenge, contestant and former winner Richard Hatch participated naked and allegedly touched Sue inappropriately, something that affected her deeply and made it impossible for her to continue playing the game. Sue explained that it was a terrible moment for her and that she could not go on, something that unfortunately wasn't taken as seriously in 2004 as it would be today following #MeToo.
Kelly Shinn (Nicaragua)
Kelly Shinn was known as 'Purple Kelly' due to the purple in her hair and her being the second player named Kelly on her season. Kelly famously quit at tribal council alongside her friend NaOnka Mixon, complaining of discomfort due to the elements of the island.
Kelly and NaOnka still got to join the jury, something that would change following the season as host Jeff Probst argued that those who quit post-merge would not get a chance to participate in the most important vote of the show. Kelly's portrayal on the show, which was basically nonexistent, has been branded the 'purple' edit, and players who received similar edits in following seasons were regarded as 'purple' players.
NaOnka Mixon (Nicaragua)
Though there were only 11 days left in the game, NaOnka Mixon and her friend Kelly Shinn made the decision to quit the game together at tribal council on Day 28.
NaOnka was one of the most popular players on Survivor: Nicaragua, making her quit shocking and affecting the course of the game. She and Kelly's joint quit due to the Nicaraguan rains and harsh living conditions changed the way Survivor handled jury rights, and Jeff Probst expressed his unhappiness with the fact that they were allowed to join the jury despite not being properly voted out of the game.
Colton Cumbie (Blood Vs Water)
Notorious Survivor villain Colton Cumbie was accused of faking appendicitis on One World, but that exit was ultimately ruled a medical evacuation. When he returned with his boyfriend Caleb Bankston for season 27, Blood Vs Water, Colton officially quit seven days in at the Redemption Island challenge arena.
Colton found it difficult to compete on a tribe separate from his partner, and couldn't handle the physical and mental toll the game was taking on him anymore. His tribe was disappointed in him as they didn't want to be down a member, and Jeff Probst gave him a hard time for voluntarily exiting the game twice. His loved one Caleb went on to do really well on the season, placing 9th, making the jury, and becoming a fan-favorite.
Sandra Diaz-Twine (Winners At War)
Two-time winner Sandra Diaz-Twine iconically returned to compete in the 40th season, Survivor: Winners At War. However, she then made history as the only player to be voted out that season that refused to continue competing on the Edge of Extinction.
When Sandra was voted out prior to the merge, she arrived on the Edge and promptly raised the flag signifying that her time in the game was over and she was ready to go home. She didn't join the jury like every other eliminated castaway and didn't join everyone at Ponderosa on Day 36. It was a memorable and relatable moment as Sandra decided she had had enough and didn't need to put herself through more pain and suffering after already winning the game twice.
Osten Taylor (Pearl Islands)
Though not the first player to threaten to quit, Osten Taylor was the very first Survivor player to officially quit the game. He lasted 19 days on Survivor: Pearl Islands before the Outcast twist was introduced, allowing for the previously voted-out castaways to try their hand at getting back into the game.
Osten later revealed that he quit due to having multiple staph infections from the elements of the island as well as feeling betrayed by the outcast twist. Host Jeff Probst was angry at Osten's decision to have his tribe vote him out, which they only did verbally, as Jeff wanted to specify that this was not a typical elimination and instead was a quit.