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Jonathan LaPaglia looks downcast during a family stroll in Los Angeles as he is seen for the first time since being brutally fired from Australian Survivor via email

BBG News

For the initial time since it became known that he had been dismissed from Australian Survivor, where he had served as host for nearly a decade, Jonathan LaPaglia has made an appearance.

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, the 55-year-old man walked with his family, carrying an air of sadness following the news that he had been unexpectedly let go, as reported by Daily Mail Australia only hours earlier.

2016 marked the year LaPaglia became the recognizable figure of the franchise, and recently, he was seen out for a leisurely stroll with his spouse Ursula Brooks and their child Tilly, on what appeared to be a family walk.

In a singlet, I proudly displayed my well-toned arms while strolling next to Tilly, who was our furry companion on the leash, her thoughts seemingly miles away.

He completed his casual look with navy shorts and a pair of comfortable sneakers.

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On Tuesday, it was exclusively disclosed by Daily Mail Australia that LaPaglia was initially informed about his termination via an email from the producers at EndemolShine Australia, the entity responsible for Survivor.

This was before anyone from Ten had the chance to pick up the phone.

After completing the final episode of Survivor Australia v The World (airing this year), a message arrived in his email.

‘He got an email first. That was the initial comms from EndemolShine,’ a source said.

After Ten had called, unfortunately, the task was already completed. Truly, such treatment isn’t what you’d expect for someone who has contributed to the show for nearly a decade.

The choice to share the difficult news through an email, characterized internally as ‘impersonal’ and ‘detached’, left those connected to the program utterly astonished.

‘It wasn’t just a job to him,’ the source added.

Jonathan approached this matter with great determination – exercise, persist, continue. Anyone who has witnessed him fiercely confront tribal council dressed entirely in linen attire can attest to his full commitment.

He was fiery, vocal, and zealous about the format, becoming defensive whenever there were suggestions for alterations, particularly during production interventions.

‘I cannot stress this enough: JLP didn’t just show up to read lines. He lived it.’

Based on reports from several reliable sources, it appears that the decision to swap out LaPaglia had already been made prior to the commencement of filming Australia v The World in September of the previous year. This decision was kept confidential to prevent it from overshadowing the upcoming season.

‘It was locked in for months,’ one spy said.

They aimed to prevent an uproar during production and editing phases, but it seems that controversy has already ignited, and it’s not limited to just Samoa.

As soon as Daily Mail Australia announced his termination, I, being an ardent fan, couldn’t help but feel the sting of LaPaglia’s statement, where he acknowledged his departure and described it as the unexpected punch I never saw coming.

For the past decade, Australian Survivor has had some truly extraordinary blindsides, but this one could possibly outdo them all… and here’s why: it was me who experienced it,” he shared on Instagram.

I got a call from the network expressing gratitude for my tireless efforts and commitment to the program, but unfortunately, they’re planning a new route for the upcoming season. Lately, viewership numbers have dropped slightly, and they’re aiming for a dramatic change to stir things up.

‘So for the first time ever this is not a tribe swap, but a host swap. Yes, you read that right.’

Tonight, things are not the usual as we prepare to vote; it’s a night when someone won’t be returning home. However, I can’t say that directly. There’s no room for any loopholes or exceptions tonight! Someone will indeed leave us, and since there’s no Idol to save me, that person is going to be me.

Among all the experiences I’ve had in my professional journey, leading Australian Survivor stands out as one of the most thrilling. Therefore, it’s undeniably a formidable task to extinguish my own torch, but here I am: “JLP… the tribe has made their decision.

According to our sources, it’s expected that David Genat, who won Survivor: All Stars, will take over the role starting in 2026; however, an official announcement has not been made yet.

Production sources claim that LaPaglia was deeply saddened when he found out that Genat was discussing potential replacements with both the network and production team.

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2025-07-02 08:03

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