Wendell Holland was the dude everyone loved.
But viewers have seen a very different Wendell onSurvivor: Winners at War.
How does Wendell feel about what has transpired and how he has been portrayed so far this season?
Robert Voets/CBS
WENDELL HOLLAND: Foolishly, I wasnt too worried.
We casually dated whileGhost Islandwas airing, and a little after.
I thought that would be good enough to make our past not really a focal point.
Robert Voets/CBS
Man, oh, man was I wrong.
Because I knew we couldnt appear as if we were close.
And thats what I believe happened on Sele 2.0.
Robert Voets/CBS
I still believe that we were on the same page every day on that beach.
Weve heard from Michele a few times how you wronged her in your relationship.
Whats it like to sit there and watch that message go out to all of America?
Robert Voets/CBS
I was surprised and confused.
Weve hung out a bunch of times with no awkwardness, and nothing but love.
Shoot, by the looks of things now I wouldnt put it past her!
But I just thought we were good friends about to play the greatest game on the planet.
So for me to see and hear all of that was new to me, and seemed one-sided.
Where was my side of the story?
If this was real life and not a reality show, I might have some qualms.
And maybe I just didnt lean into it as much as she did.
So either he suggested to me that I apologize, or I told him that I would.
But I thought Michele and I were acting like we werent cool with one another.
So of course shed tell him shes not comfortable with me and how I handle myself.
Just like of course shed tell Parv that Im so cocky, arrogant, and smug.
The man is brilliant, it was a great strategy, but Fitz and I were locked in.
But, I admit, I did communicate differently with Yul, Nick, and Michele out there.
Just like I communicated differently with Dom and Laurel onGhost Island.
With Dom, our game talk conversations were quick, short, and direct.
Chris Noble is gunning for you, heres what were going to do, boom.
Sele 2.0 was similar in the way Id code shift depending on with whom I was speaking.
Id listen more around Yul.
He spoke a lot, and always had interesting insights to share, about the game and about life.
Id be a bro with Nick, thats my bro, we chillin.
With Michele, I talked to her like I talked to Dom.
I sounded like I wasnt making a genuine apology, and maybe I wasnt.
But, if I took that tone with Dom, nobody would blink an eye.
You offered to Parvati to vote her way if she gave you her Fire Tokens.
When we got to Sele 2.0, Parv and I went to get water.
I gave her the run down.
Furthermore, she was connected with Michele, Yul, and Nick.
But I was working with them.
And they all continued to tell me Parv was gunning for me the whole time we were out there.
you might buy my vote for two Fire Tokens.
I put the ball in her court, and she didnt shoot it.
Then, later at Tribal, Probst gave me the ball again.
He said, Is that a current invitation?
So, again, I tossed the ball into her court when I said, Its a current invitation.
But again, she didnt shoot.
She didnt come talk to me or anything.
They were overreacting, but I think it was all game.
But I think Yul wanted another reason to put a target on me.
So we then heard Nicks confessional where he was complaining about me talking trash and showboating in the challenge.
InGhost Islandwe were doing a slingshot challenge, and I looked over and saw my buddy Dom.
I said something like, How ya doing over there, Dom?
just to get in his head a little bit.
Even when we won, I tried to be graceful.
Further, I won a whole lot onGhost Island, just tell me when I was showing off.
I actively venture to minimize my winning celebrations so as to not put a target on me.
[ED NOTE: Dont let that fool you!]
So I actively attempt to not over-celebrate.
Look at the block challenge that me and Parv finished this season.
Check out the four-piece pyramid puzzle I finished inGhost Islandat final 5.
Yes, I called Jeff over last challenge just before we completed the challenge.
But that was neither showboating nor talking trash.
Thats all that was.
You made it to the merge!
Its a great feeling making it to the merge, especially on the season of all-winners.
The merge is a milestone, and comes with the merge feast which weve all been looking forward to.
Where did you put said toothpick while swimming?
Im a magician with that toothpick, Dalton, what can I say?
And a magician never reveals his secrets.
For moreSurvivorscoop, follow Dalton onTwitterandInstagram.
