“Survivor” Alum Jonny Fairplay’s Grandmother Dies — Over 2 Decades After He Strategically Claimed She Already Did

Survivor Star Jonny Fairplay Mourns the Passing of His Grandmother, 20 Years After Famously Faking Her Death

Reality TV personality Jonny Fairplay, known for his controversial stint on the show “Survivor,” is currently grieving the loss of his grandmother, Ellen Jean Hauser, who passed away more than two decades after his infamous false claim about her death. Fairplay, aged 50, took to social media on Saturday, February 8, to announce the sad news of his grandmother’s demise.

Ellen Jean Hauser, also known as Fairplay’s “dead grandma” to viewers of “Survivor: Pearl Islands” in 2003, succumbed to kidney failure at the Embrace Hospice House in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Fairplay acknowledged that despite their complicated history on television, his grandmother played a significant role in his life as a caring and supportive family member.

In his statement to various media outlets, including TMZ and Entertainment Weekly, Fairplay expressed his heartfelt sentiments, saying, “It’s easy to think she was just part of one of the biggest lies in TV history, which made me famous, but I look at her place in my life as a loving grandparent who only wanted the best for me in my life and would do anything to help me get it.”

Fairplay revealed that his grandmother actually relished the attention and exposure she received from his fabricated narrative on “Survivor,” where he falsely claimed her death to gain an advantage in a challenge. The elaborate ruse involved a staged moment during the show where a friend informed him of his grandmother’s passing, leading to sympathy from fellow contestants and ultimately a reward challenge win.

Looking back at the incident, series host Jeff Probst labelled Fairplay’s deception as the “greatest lie ever told on Survivor,” solidifying his status as one of the show’s most notorious villains. Despite the controversy surrounding his actions, Fairplay openly shared that he harbours no regrets about his strategic gameplay, as it was a deliberate move to establish himself as the show’s inaugural “reality villain.”

Reflecting on his mischievous tactics, Fairplay explained, “When I explained to production that I wanted to be the heel, they were elated and gave me every opportunity to run with my notorious ways. It was like getting a permission slip to do evil.”

As Fairplay navigates this period of mourning for his grandmother, he has fondly remembered her quirky and spirited personality. As per his recollections shared on the Reality After Show podcast, Hauser was a feisty individual who adored Pontiac cars, was likened to Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, and even embraced her unexpected fame with a personalised license plate reading “DEAD GMA.”

In conclusion, the legacy of Ellen Jean Hauser, despite the unconventional circumstances of her public persona, lives on through the memories she shared with her grandson Jonny Fairplay. The bond between them, both on and off the screen, serves as a testament to the enduring power of family connections amidst the backdrop of reality television drama.