Inside TV+Movies with Daniel Fienberg

HitFix Interview: Colton Cumbie talks 'Survivor: One World'

What did this season's 'Survivor' super-villain have to say for himself?

By Daniel Fienberg Saturday, Mar 24, 2012 1:30 AM

Colton of "Survivor: One World"

Credit: CBS

Are you a fan of Survivor?

Sign up to get the latest updates instantly.

It would be easy to call Colton Cumbie the most polarizing castaway of the "Survivor: One World" season, but that would imply that there are multiple poles of opinion.

"Survivor" fans love Villains, whether they've been miscategorized like Boston Rob was in the "Heroes vs. Villains" season, or even if their actions have seemingly been beyond the pale. Jonny Fairplay. Russell Hantz. Even "Thailand" winner and puppy shooter Brian Heidik probably has defenders.

At least for now, Colton has very few people in his corner. That's what comes from calling an African-American contestant "ghetto," from dubbing a little person a Munchkin and an Oompa Loompa and from tormenting an Asian player with eye-based slurs.

Colton was also the season's dominant player, orchestrating a slew of bold moves to eliminate threats, including the unprecedented decision to lead his clan to Tribal Council despite winning Immunity just to evict a castaway he disliked.

In the end, Colton's sway over his colleagues remained unabated and it was only a medical emergency that pulled him out of the game in a shocking twist this week. Even carted out on a stretcher, Colton got the last laugh, taking a coveted Immunity Idol with him.

In our exit conversation this week, I asked Colton to address as many of the unseemly aspects of his run as I could. To his credit, he never cut off a single line of questioning and it'll be up to readers to decide how sincere he comes off.

We also discussed his hopes for winning a jury vote and his thoughts on playing "Survivor" again in the future.

Click through...

HitFix: First off, how is your health now and what was the recovery process like?

Colton Cumbie: I am completely intact. I still have an appendix. After being taken out of the game, I was taken to a hospital where I was informed that I had a severe bacterial infection. It could have been food-borne. It could be water-borne. They really don't know. I was treated with antibiotics and then when I got back to the States, I actually hadn't fully recovered. I still had some remnants of it and so I had to do another round of antibiotics and then after that I was as good as new. I'm all well now.

HitFix: You've been able to watch the six episodes this season and you've seen the way you were portrayed on the show. Would you say that was a fair representation of your time and your actions out there?

Colton: Yeah. You know. I'm not gonna sit here and blame the edit or blame the producers or CBS or anybody like that. Obviously what you see is me. I did it. I think there were some things that were taken out of context, of course, but you can't show everything that happened. They just kinda have to show you a certain amount. But yeah, obviously the things that I said, I said them. I'll own that. I agree that some of my comments were very extreme and very ignorant, to be frank, so that's kinda where I stand on it.

HitFix: Well watching the episodes, how frequently were you having those "Hmmm... Maybe I went a little too far..." moments?

Colton: I think when I called Bill "ghetto trash," I didn't really interpret it the way it was taken. That's kinda when people people started calling me racist and I was really confused and I was like, "How am I racist?" When I made that comment -- I'm not trying to justify, just clarify -- I was directing it more towards his financial status, which is still ignorant, but it was never, ever a racial issue. It was never directed at him for being African-American or anything like that, so I was really confused. And then when I watched Episode 4 is when I really got uncomfortable and I was like, "Oh my gosh." I was uncomfortable watching it. I was like... I never ever want people to think that I think it's OK to treat people that way.

HitFix: So then I take it you have regrets about what you called Leif?

Colton: Yeah, well that's another thing... That whole Leif thing, I do regret what I said, but there was an underlying sense of humor. It was supposed to be funny. A lot of people from my cast have actually said, "Had I said that, people would have laughed, but since it was Colton, people get all up in arms because of the other comments he made." But yeah, obviously it's one of those things where you just really have to know my sense of humor. I have a critical, satirical sense of humor and that's how it was meant. It was meant to be funny. I make fun of myself. I call myself "a queen" and I can totally own that "I fluttered into the net" or "I run like a girl" or whatever. It was supposed to be funny. And apparently some people thought it wasn't.

HitFix: And you presumably thought the same with Christina and the "Asian eyes"?

Colton: Yes. Yes. Completely. You're in the moment. It's just supposed to be a joke. It's not supposed to be taken to the level it's been taken to.

HitFix: I've had a couple people say in the exit interviews I've done and in comments on recaps variations on "Well, Russell was a villain in the game, but Colton seems to be a villain in real life." How do you respond to that?

Colton: Yeah. Let me just start off my saying: I'm very grateful to the experience of being on "Survivor" for several reasons: One, it was a dream come true. Two, I feel like I really did get to kinda see myself through other peoples' eyes. Watching me, I got to see how other people see me. Jeff had noted that I kinda have never known how people have seen me outside of my own little circle. And that's true. I've lived 20 years, basically in a bubble. I've led a very sheltered, privileged life and I'm not as mature as some people who have played the game have been. Probably when I started in that game, I was a complete and utter spoiled brat and I probably was a villain in life. But looking back on it now, I want to be known as a villain on "Survivor." I don't want to be known as a villain in life, if that makes sense.

HitFix: Sure, but you went into the game planning to be villainous to some degree?

Colton: I knew I was gonna play like a villain, not never necessarily that I wanted to be known like a Russell Hantz-type deal or anything like that, but I wanted to play the villain, because I feel like you almost have to. Very seldom do heroes win this game. It's a game about lying, cheating and backstabbing and you can't really go out there and say, "Oh, I want to play with honor and integrity" and not expect to get at best fifth place. So I went in wanting to play or expecting to play villainous, but I didn't expect the attacks on my personal life, I guess. People have messaged my mom and emailed my mom and told her, "You need need to kill yourself for raising a child like that" I just think... people really need to... It's like, you want to come at me and say that I've said horrible things, but that's where you want to go with it?

HitFix: What have reactions been like to you, directly?

Colton: Directly? I haven't really had any of that. I mean, obviously the Internet... People take to the web whenever they want to go on the attack. No one has come up to me and said anything to my face. A lot of people who know me, they know that obviously, what you see is not really who I am. You really have to meet me. I've met people who have admittedly said, "We weren't your biggest fans, but after meeting you, we see you're totally different than you were on the show." That's the thing and that's what I really can't stress enough, not even just for me, but for anybody: Alicia, NaOnka, anybody who's ever been on the show, that's not who we are in everyday life. Someone doesn't know how they would be until they're put in that position and for a 20-year-old kid who's about to be on television, obviously I wanted to make a big impact.

HitFix: Briefly talking about the game. You talk about how heroes seldom win the game, but honestly, playing the game you were playing, do you really think you could have made it to a Jury and actually had a Jury vote for you?

Colton: I do. Honestly. I don't think that it's delusional of me to think that, because as much as people at home hate me and want me to die, basically, the people in the game didn't feel that way about me. They respected me as a player. They respected my game. I think that had I made it to the Final 3, I definitely could have made a case to the jury saying, "Look, you may not have agreed with some of the things that I said, but I got here and you're all there because, basically, I put you there. I started out as the vulnerable and had the biggest target on my forehead and I clawed, scratched and fought my way to get here. I was the most underestimated player in this game and now I'm sitting in the Final 3." And I think off the top of my head, I can think of at least five people on that Jury who would have voted for me.

HitFix: In the game, were you surprised by the ease with which you were able to get players to go along with you and the ease with which you were able to get players do do ridiculous things like going to Tribal Council after you'd won?

Colton: No. That's the thing. Obviously once you've watched me on television, you know about me, per se, you're aware of how I am, you have an awareness that "This may be how he is and he may be conning me," but in life, I'm really good at getting people to do what I want. I said that several times. I've had teachers that if I didn't want to do an assignment, I would call be them and be like, "I really don't want to do this" and they'd be like, "If you don't tell anybody, you don't have to do it." I've always been really good at getting away with stuff. I can be very charismatic.

HitFix: Given that, what do you have to say to people to convince them that you're being sincere about the reflection that you've done since you've watching the show and that you're not just conning us that you've seen the light or whatever?

Colton: Yeah, honestly there's nothing I can really say to convince anyone of anything. You just have to meet me. Obviously, the only reason that I would quote-unquote "con" someone is if I wanted something, if I had a reason to, such as playing "Survivor," but I'm not gonna do it just for the hell of doing it. I'm not just gonna blow smoke up someone just for the hell of it. If I say this, then obviously this is how I feel. I think if there's one thing about me that we can definitely say, it's that I do say how I feel.

HitFix: So do you have any sort of straight-up apology to Bill, to Christina, to Leif that you want to make? That's different from regretting, I mean...

Colton: I definitely, I think they're all great people. I think they're even better people, because they put up with me. I have no ill-will towards any of them and I think they all know that. I think they all know where I stand as far as how I feel about each one of them. People have asked me, "Do you regret what you said?" and in a way I do. I never intentionally wanted to hurt people. It's kinda one of those things where when you find out how it really did hurt people and they're not really laughing, it's a whole new ballgame. You really just have to change your perception of it. But in a way, I don't regret it, because it did allow me to grow as a person, seeing myself behave that way.

HitFix: Are you assuming that there will be a chance for you to get back into a future "Survivor" season?

Colton: Well, you know what they say about assuming. Given the opportunity, I would definitely do it again. Obviously I don't know what they have in the works, but if they were to call me and say, "Do you want to do it?" then obviously, in a heartbeat.

HitFix: And would you want to play differently if you had the chance to do it again?

Colton: Yeah, I would play differently, in that I wouldn't make things so personal. I think I've learned enough and grown enough to know that I can be funny and it not hurt people's feelings. I don't have to just go on the attack the way I did. I actually made this point that I have a lot of built-up animosity towards people in general, just because I had a lot of people who make comments and say, "Oh, you're never gonna be able to do this. You're gonna fall flat on your face. You're gonna be pathetic at the game." I really wanted to go out and show them, basically, "Screw you. I'm gonna do it." And I did it. At the end of the day, people can't say they got me, because they didn't. I went out, Idol in hand.

HitFix: Gotta ask about that. Did you even consider giving the Idol to Alicia?

Colton: Not Alicia. I wanted to give it to Jay, but that wasn't an option.

Hitfix: Why to Jay?

Colton: Jay and I actually had a relationship from Day 1. We were super-close. I was closest to him out of everyone in the game. He was the one person out of everyone that I never ever, ever would have voted out.

HitFix: Is he the one you're rooting for going forward?

Colton: He is.

Previous "Survivor: One World" Exit Interviews:

Monica Culpepper

Bill Posley

Matt Quinlan

Nina Acosta

Kourtney Moon

Want More...

Survivor?

Check out everything there is including photos, reviews, videos.

Go There ►

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.

Related Searches: Interview, Survivor, exit Interview, Colton, Colton Cumbie

Trending Now on HitFix Boards

Topic	Started By	Latest Post	Replies
Which "Real Housewives" star do you like? Or loathe?	LianeBonin	20 days ago	2
Big Brother is back -- but do we care?	LianeBonin	10 months ago	3
Discuss Reality TV on HitFix Message Boards »

NonColtonFan

Im not going to go on the attack of Colton. However, I am a huge supporter of Gay rights and am very involved in supporting groups against discrimination and bullying. To say that to meet him, will show what kind of person he truly is rubbish. He admits being a manipulator in real life. The person you truly are, is the person you are when no one is watching. The world was watching and you were a horrible, mean person. The fact you told a fellow player you "didnt care if she fell in the fire and needed to be med-evaced out" is ironic since you were the one med-evaced out that same episode. Kharma is a bitch and hope you truly change your ways. Otherwise your not only a disgrace to the gay community but to the human race as well.
March 24, 2012 at 3:38AM EST Reply to Comment
- timmo Good comment, couldn't have said it better myself.
  March 24, 2012 at 9:21AM EST
LDP in Cincinnati

Still an asshole.
March 24, 2012 at 8:49AM EST Reply to Comment
iampecola

I've read a few interviews with Colton since the incident with Bill and, simply put, I don't believe him.

This kid is a bigot and I don't accept his half-hearted apologies. He throws out the fact that he calls himself a "queen" as some kind of justification for his bigotry...which is just a strawman. He might as well say some of his best friends are black, Asian or little people.

If Colton's a part of any future Survivor shows, I won't count myself among the audience.
March 24, 2012 at 9:00AM EST Reply to Comment
- the minister Colton is a sociopath.
  
  Sociopaths know enough to apologize. Of course it means NOTHING to them beyond PR....
  May 13, 2012 at 11:12PM EST
The Pensky File

Read through the print medium, he seems regretful. However, his time on the show portrayed him as something of a skilled politician, and his responses read like a PR apology. He's a d-bag.
March 24, 2012 at 9:10AM EST Reply to Comment
cap

Of course he's regretful in interviews. Rush Limbaugh "apologized" for calling that Georgetown student a slut too. People apologize when they are cought or called out, but 90% of the time they don't change their minds.
It's just seems a little weird that a member of minority would be so unaware and oblivious to his own close-mindedness and discriminating behaviour. But I guess he never encountered any adversity in his life because of being gay so he has no clue what it's like to be treated based on negative stereotypes and prejudice.
March 24, 2012 at 11:00AM EST Reply to Comment
Chris

I don't believe him. I think he's doing his best to put a spin on his wretched behavior but he is what he is...a loathsome,wretched, truly evil person. If he ever gets back on Survivor, I will not watch and further, I will write to all the sponsors in objection.
March 24, 2012 at 2:20PM EST Reply to Comment
hammertime

i enjoyed every minute of watching him in pain. well worth having a possible crappy season to see someone so horrible in so much pain.
"i have black people in my life - my maid."
March 24, 2012 at 2:49PM EST Reply to Comment
chapstick

A person's true character is revealed during times of stress. Colton showed himself to be the scum of the earth. Don't believe his phony apologies. He wants to be a celebrity. I don't think he'll be invited back to Survivors, because the producers probably hate him too.
March 24, 2012 at 3:47PM EST Reply to Comment
- the minister I hope you are right, because even after 24 seasons, it's still a pretty good show.
  
  Mostly because it's the only "reality" "competition" with an element of both reality and competition.
  
  However, I would not suffer an single further minute of Colton even if you cast 17 Amandas against him.
  March 25, 2012 at 1:51PM EST
osiskars

WOW , all of you people are even worse than him! I mean you have never met him and you judge him! at least when he judged others he had met them!!!! Seeing in tv is not meeting .... Poor people. Why you wanna become like him?
March 24, 2012 at 10:20PM EST Reply to Comment
- troopermsu Child, please.
  March 25, 2012 at 3:53AM EST
- the minister Yeah, poor Idi Amin. Poor Stalin. Poor Pol Pot.
  
  So many people who judge them but never had a chance to look em in the eye and read their souls.
  
  /barfAtReflexiveInternetContrarianismDisorder
  
  Ooooooh, I think I just coined a fake(ish) disorder: "RickD"
  March 25, 2012 at 1:45PM EST
troopermsu

Can a leopard change is spots?
March 25, 2012 at 3:53AM EST Reply to Comment
- the minister No no no.
  
  More like "can a weasel change it's slimy pelt?
  No, wait, how about "can a rat change its scabrous tail?"
  Mmmm, too insulting to plague-bearing vermin.
  
  Let's go with "can an Ebola virus change it's RNA?"
  
  That seems just about right.
  March 25, 2012 at 1:57PM EST
heartlessjokes

Colton...

If you make fun of a person and they don't laugh with you, that's not a joke. That's not them being "unable to understand your sense of humor".

That was you being an asshole and them being too nice to say it to your face.
March 25, 2012 at 4:18AM EST Reply to Comment
the minister

Dear Colton,

I hope you are reading this. Really I do.

I shall mince no words: you are a classist racist piece of shit. A waste of flesh.

You are the most repugnant person I have ever seen on reality TV.
I'm sure you know just how extreme a statement that is.

It is, however, true.

I would not beat you to death in the street, but if I read tomorrow you were beaten to death in the street, I wouldn't be the *least* bit surprised & only the least bit remorseful.
March 25, 2012 at 1:40PM EST Reply to Comment
crumdawg97

Sounds like he really did keep his idol as a souvenir. So the "falling from the helicopter" idol at the end of the episode was just the producers hinting that they're putting an idol back in play regardless of Colton keeping it.
March 26, 2012 at 10:58AM EST Reply to Comment
- CaseyGuest Too bad it wasn't Colton who fell from the helicopter.
  April 5, 2012 at 2:25PM EST
BG

Well, Colton was able to say what he wanted to say and speak his mind and make amends... and after reading it all, I still feel he is a spoiled brat that will say (admittedly) whatever it takes to get his way. GOOD RIDDANCE TO THE QUEEN! My Survivor enjoyment just doubled thanks to a true villain, bacteria.
March 27, 2012 at 9:03AM EST Reply to Comment
- Dezbot In this case, the bacteria was the hero!
  March 27, 2012 at 12:26PM EST
- the minister Bacteria is also considerably more appealing than at least half the leftover survivors.
  March 27, 2012 at 6:50PM EST
Ghetto Superstar

Yay for bacteria!!! hahahah
I sure he's gonna meet alot more black people in the future! hahaha
March 28, 2012 at 12:18AM EST Reply to Comment

News From Our Partners

Follow HitFix:

Follow @HitFix

Get Instant Alerts on Breaking News

Latest Posts

Interview: John Cochran discusses his 'Survivor: Caramoan' win

This season's shutout winner discusses his path to victory

Thursday, May 16, 2013
Recap: 'American Idol' Finale Performances - Candice versus Kree

'Idol' begins to wind down a tough season with an hour of singing

Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Interview: Dawn Meehan and Sherri Biethman talk 'Survivor: Caramoan'

The losing finalists discuss their lack of Jury respect

Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Listen: Firewall & Iceberg Podcast No. 181

Dan and Alan talk upfronts, 'How I Met Your Mother' finale and more

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Cannes Film Festival 2013

Inside TV+Movies with Daniel Fienberg

HitFix Interview: Colton Cumbie talks 'Survivor: One World'

Are you a fan of Survivor?

Sign up to get the latest updates instantly.

Never miss a post - sign up now to get an e-mail alert whenever Survivor is updated

Want More...

Survivor?

Send to your friends

Direct link: http://tinyurl.com/7lkccgz

HitFix Interview: Colton Cumbie talks 'Survivor: One World'

Share this Post on ...

Direct link: http://tinyurl.com/7lkccgz

HitFix Interview: Colton Cumbie talks 'Survivor: One World'

Trending Now on HitFix Boards

Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

timmo Good comment, couldn't have said it better myself.

LDP in Cincinnati Still an asshole.

the minister Colton is a sociopath.Sociopaths know enough to apologize. Of course it means NOTHING to them beyond PR....

The Pensky File Read through the print medium, he seems regretful. However, his time on the show portrayed him as something of a skilled politician, and his responses read like a PR apology. He's a d-bag.

Chris I don't believe him. I think he's doing his best to put a spin on his wretched behavior but he is what he is...a loathsome,wretched, truly evil person. If he ever gets back on Survivor, I will not watch and further, I will write to all the sponsors in objection.

hammertime i enjoyed every minute of watching him in pain. well worth having a possible crappy season to see someone so horrible in so much pain. "i have black people in my life - my maid."

chapstick A person's true character is revealed during times of stress. Colton showed himself to be the scum of the earth. Don't believe his phony apologies. He wants to be a celebrity. I don't think he'll be invited back to Survivors, because the producers probably hate him too.

osiskars WOW , all of you people are even worse than him! I mean you have never met him and you judge him! at least when he judged others he had met them!!!! Seeing in tv is not meeting .... Poor people. Why you wanna become like him?

troopermsu Child, please.

the minister Yeah, poor Idi Amin. Poor Stalin. Poor Pol Pot. So many people who judge them but never had a chance to look em in the eye and read their souls./barfAtReflexiveInternetContrarianismDisorderOoooooh, I think I just coined a fake(ish) disorder: "RickD"

troopermsu Can a leopard change is spots?

the minister No no no.More like "can a weasel change it's slimy pelt?No, wait, how about "can a rat change its scabrous tail?"Mmmm, too insulting to plague-bearing vermin.Let's go with "can an Ebola virus change it's RNA?"That seems just about right.

heartlessjokes Colton...If you make fun of a person and they don't laugh with you, that's not a joke. That's not them being "unable to understand your sense of humor".That was you being an asshole and them being too nice to say it to your face.

crumdawg97 Sounds like he really did keep his idol as a souvenir. So the "falling from the helicopter" idol at the end of the episode was just the producers hinting that they're putting an idol back in play regardless of Colton keeping it.

CaseyGuest Too bad it wasn't Colton who fell from the helicopter.

Dezbot In this case, the bacteria was the hero!

the minister Bacteria is also considerably more appealing than at least half the leftover survivors.

Ghetto Superstar Yay for bacteria!!! hahahahI sure he's gonna meet alot more black people in the future! hahaha

News From Our Partners

Be the first to know - sign up now to get an instant e-mail alert whenever something big happens in Movies, TV or Music

Latest Posts

Recent Activity on Facebook

Most Popular on Facebook

About HitFix

Advertise on HitFix

Subscribe to HitFix

Popular Topics

Never miss a post - sign up now to get an e-mail alert whenever
Survivor is updated

LDP in Cincinnati

Still an asshole.

the minister Colton is a sociopath.

Sociopaths know enough to apologize. Of course it means NOTHING to them beyond PR....

The Pensky File

Read through the print medium, he seems regretful. However, his time on the show portrayed him as something of a skilled politician, and his responses read like a PR apology. He's a d-bag.

Chris

I don't believe him. I think he's doing his best to put a spin on his wretched behavior but he is what he is...a loathsome,wretched, truly evil person. If he ever gets back on Survivor, I will not watch and further, I will write to all the sponsors in objection.

hammertime

i enjoyed every minute of watching him in pain. well worth having a possible crappy season to see someone so horrible in so much pain.
"i have black people in my life - my maid."

chapstick

A person's true character is revealed during times of stress. Colton showed himself to be the scum of the earth. Don't believe his phony apologies. He wants to be a celebrity. I don't think he'll be invited back to Survivors, because the producers probably hate him too.

osiskars

WOW , all of you people are even worse than him! I mean you have never met him and you judge him! at least when he judged others he had met them!!!! Seeing in tv is not meeting .... Poor people. Why you wanna become like him?

the minister Yeah, poor Idi Amin. Poor Stalin. Poor Pol Pot.

So many people who judge them but never had a chance to look em in the eye and read their souls.

/barfAtReflexiveInternetContrarianismDisorder

Ooooooh, I think I just coined a fake(ish) disorder: "RickD"

troopermsu

Can a leopard change is spots?

the minister No no no.

More like "can a weasel change it's slimy pelt?
No, wait, how about "can a rat change its scabrous tail?"
Mmmm, too insulting to plague-bearing vermin.

Let's go with "can an Ebola virus change it's RNA?"

That seems just about right.

heartlessjokes

Colton...

If you make fun of a person and they don't laugh with you, that's not a joke. That's not them being "unable to understand your sense of humor".

That was you being an asshole and them being too nice to say it to your face.

crumdawg97

Sounds like he really did keep his idol as a souvenir. So the "falling from the helicopter" idol at the end of the episode was just the producers hinting that they're putting an idol back in play regardless of Colton keeping it.

Ghetto Superstar

Yay for bacteria!!! hahahah
I sure he's gonna meet alot more black people in the future! hahaha

Be the first to know - sign up now to get an instant e-mail alert
whenever something big happens in Movies, TV or Music