'Survivor 41': JD Robinson Talks 'Poor' Play, Shan's Strategy Against Him

Jairus "JD" Robinson learned a tough lesson on Wednesday's episode of "Survivor 41."

The 20-year-old college student became the fifth person voted out of "Survivor 41" after he trusted Ua tribemate Shantel Smith, known by Shan on the show, with possession of his extra vote advantage. Shan pulled off her second major blindside in as many weeks after writing JD's name down as she clutched his extra vote.

JD, a massive superfan of "Survivor," told Entertainment Weekly that getting unanimously voted out of his tribe was difficult to accept because he "wanted so badly to contribute to the evolution of the game."

"I wanted so badly to play hard, and I wasn't really in a position where I could be in control, so I really wanted to make the merge so I could change my trajectory, because I knew I was playing bad pre-merge," he said.

According to the college student, watching the episode, which was filmed six months before it aired Wednesday, and seeing himself messing up challenges and Shan's betrayal had been "hard."

JD also explained that while it seemed to viewers he didn't have much of a strategy, he was actually "strategizing so much" on the show but acknowledged that he "didn't have the social capital to be able to make those optimal moves."

Addressing his decision to hand Shan his advantage, JD admitted in his EW interview that it was "poor 'Survivor' play on my part."

In a separate interview with TVLine, he explained that he didn't make the decision based on emotion or the initial bond they formed on the show but rather "out of necessity."

Calling it a "Hail Mary" play, JD said, "It was the only play I had. Originally, I didn’t want to give it to her. I wanted to vote out Ricard with Brad and Genie that first time, but Brad wouldn’t even speak to me. The only option I had was to try to buy some loyalty with Shan and try to get the person in power — I saw that Shan was in power the entire time — to want to work with me."

JD also shared that he actually didn't want to work with Shan and Ricard Foye but did "out of necessity" because he had no one else to turn to at the time.

He revealed to TVLine that he had several unaired confessionals in which he complained about them using him as a "puppet," adding, "I wanted to flip it on them so many times."

Despite this, he "100% respects" the move Shan and Ricard made against him. "That move will go [down] in 'Survivor' history, right? I'll be the dummy in it, but it'll go down in 'Survivor' history," JD told the outlet.

JD said he hasn't spoken to Shan since he left the show, explaining that while she was "great" at the game, she "still screwed me over pretty heavily."

Despite not emerging triumphant on his favorite show, JD said he's still thankful for his "Survivor" experience. He added that he "would do absolutely anything" for a chance to return.

"Survivor" airs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS.