Survivor: Jay reflects on falling for the fake hidden immunity idol

Jay Starrett thought he had one last trick up his sleeve during the finale of Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X. But he was wrong. Dave laid a trap out with a fake immunity idol, and Jay fell for it hook, line, and sinker, becoming the sixth place finisher for the season.

How does Jay feel about falling for the old fake idol trick? How does he think he would have fared had he made it to the end? What is his relationship with rival Adam like now? We asked him all that and more when he called into EW Morning Live (Entertainment Weekly Radio, SiriusXM, channel 105), and here are the highlights from our chat.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like watching the finale back and you seeing yourself calling everyone stupid and losers and idiots for not seeing what you thought was a real hidden immunity idol, now knowing that you were the one getting played?

JAY STARRETT: No, dude, it was awesome. It was just like a sick experience altogether because you don’t see that coming and you get tricked. They’re awesome, they’re smart people.

I loved your reaction when you realized at Tribal Council what has happened because as bummed as you had to be being voted out, your appreciation and respect for the move was clear.

Yeah, you can’t get mad at this game, and if you lose the game, then just be a good sport and let it ride.

What was the conversation like with David eventually when you talked to him about that?

Dude, I think David is an all-around genius. When I see him, I’m just like, “Yo, come here, bro. Give me a huge hug.” But God, in my mind, if only.

I love playing what if. How do you do if you get to the end? Do you think you beat anyone that you go against in the finals?

For sure. The only person that I don’t think I’d beat was David. I think that might have been a tie, but I would have tried to beat him for sure.

So you think if you and David are at the end, then that’s gonna be really close?

Yeah, that would have definitely happened. It would be a split vote or it could have been a first time for Survivor. That would have been sick.

My favorite thing about the entire season was your bizarro relationship with Adam. You guys were bitter rivals, yet you said you had this brotherly bond as well. What have you guys been like out of the game?

It’s still the same, because I gave him a dead leg yesterday and he doesn’t like that.

Was that like, “Hey you won a million dollars, I’m giving you a dead leg”?

It was like, “I should just kill you right now!” No, we were just messing around. I love Adam so much and we were going out yesterday just to see him and experience everything with him and then just to be there for him when he wins. He’s a brother and I’m stuck with him for life because he’s just nuts.

We loved that scene of you guys lying on the hammocks and both of you talking about your reasons for being there and your moms. It was an incredibly moving scene to watch.

Yeah, a lot of fans were telling me yesterday, “You guys honestly had such a pure and perfect moment on Survivor. We don’t know if that will ever happen.” For me, it was an opportunity to be real with someone. It just turned out to be so real to the fact that it’s just nuts.

Well, you may have won if he’d made it to the end, which is exactly why they voted him out of the game.

I would’ve won.

Well, there you have it. But let me ask you something: As you look back, do you regret voting out Michaela? It was right before the merge and it ended up putting you down in numbers after the merge. Do you ever look back and think, maybe I should have just kept her for a vote or two just to solidify my numbers?

Nope. I think everything just happened the way it did. I think my biggest mistake was covering the numbers.

Is that something that haunts you?

I wouldn’t say it haunts me. I can’t go back in the past. I only live in the present. If you go back to the past then I’m just going to be thinking about it all the time. But I do remember when Probst goes, “Jay left his numbers out!” And I’m like, ‘Oh my God!’ I thought about running back to go do it, but David was already over there and he’s standing and watching the numbers. I’m like, too late, let me just go. I messed up. And then the puzzle pieces fell. I just was stressed out.

What’s so funny about that is that usually there’s no covering or partition to any puzzle you do — everyone’s always looking at everyone else’s puzzle, and cheating and copying. The one time they said all right, cover it up, and then you forgot.

Yeah, it sucks.

I know the finale night is always a big night for players. Exactly how much sleep have you gotten and what did you guys do after the reunion last night? Besides drink a lot, I’m assuming.

I didn’t really drink that much. We just stayed up so late. Because you keep sitting around and you just keep talking to each other because you all miss each other and then it’s finally done and you can finally talk about who won. It’s freeing at the same time. I was just talking with Tails all night, until like four in the morning.

Not Figtails, though.

Nope, that fairy tale ended.

Was he trying to get his kid to sleep?

No, the kid’s not here, thank God.

Obviously you were a breakout character this season. If they asked you to come play again, would you do it?

Do I pack my bags right now or should I just go? Yes. For sure.

You can listen to audio of all the Survivor finale interviews below! Also make sure to also read Dalton’s full Survivor finale recap as well as Jeff Probst sharing intel on the next season of Survivor: Game Changers. And for more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter @DaltonRoss.