The tribe has decided… and Andrew Cuomo is being voted off the island.
A number of recent “Survivor” participants — such as Teeny Chirichillo (Season 47), Yam Yam Arocho (Season 44), and Katurah Topps (Season 45) — have returned to tribal council to lend their support to Zohran Mamdani in a new campaign advertisement sponsored by the New York City mayoral candidate.
The advertisement aired on WCBS-TV in New York during Wednesday evening’s broadcast of “Survivor” and is part of a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at engaging various voting demographics. Previously, Mamdani’s campaign released a “Bachelor”-themed ad during a recent episode of “The Golden Bachelor.”
“Andrew, New Yorkers are looking for a mayor who will make groceries and childcare affordable, not one who hands us over to their billionaire contributors,” Chirichillo states in the advertisement while holding a piece of the show’s iconic voting parchment with Cuomo’s name displayed, simulating the act of voting him out.
In a twist reminiscent of the confessionals featured during “Survivor” elimination ceremonies, Brandon Donlon (Season 45) advocates for “a mayor who will ensure fast and free buses,” while Arocho expresses the desire to elect someone who will “maintain funding for the MTA.”
As Cuomo’s imaginary torch is extinguished, Natalie Anderson (Season 29) delivers an impassioned appeal: “We stand by assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. He will challenge Trump, freeze rents, and bring universal childcare.”
Mamdani makes an appearance towards the end of the advertisement to declare: “We’re on a mission to create a city where nobody has to struggle to survive.”
A disclaimer run by WCBS prior to the ad emphasized that this was not to be viewed as an endorsement by the network: “The Following Message Is Not Associated with Either ‘Survivor’ or CBS.” It is understood that CBS and the producers of “Survivor” were not consulted regarding the utilization of the “Survivor” theme or the participation of past contestants.
“Federal law mandated our New York station WCBS-TV to air this candidate advertisement despite the lack of any affiliation with either ‘Survivor’ or WCBS-TV,” stated a CBS representative.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and Democratic Socialist whose progressive policies have inspired younger voters, achieved a surprising victory in the Democratic primary. He, along with his opponents — former Governor Cuomo, now an independent, and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate — are anticipated to invest heavily in advertising in the lead-up to the mayoral election on November 4.
