JamesG
02-10-2025, 07:46 PM
"Survivor" Star Jonny Fairplay's Grandmother Dies 22 Years after he Lied about her Death
by Wesley Stenzel
February 10, 2025
EbRPviyO3SY
Jonny Fairplay has some sad news: His grandmother has died, for real this time.
The "Survivor" alum lied about his grandmother dying in a notorious, pivotal moment on the Pearl Islands season of the show in 2003, attempting to drum up sympathy from his fellow players.
Now he says the news of his grandma's death is true.
"I'll miss her every day," Fairplay tells Entertainment Weekly. "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. Which she did."
Fairplay's grandma was named Ellen Jean Hauser and went by her middle name. Born in 1934, Hauser dated Grand Ole Opry host Faron Young and had a fling with Robert Goulet, her grandson says. She died on Friday, Feb. 7, at Embrace Hospice House in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Hauser seemingly embraced her Survivor notoriety, as she had a custom license plate that read "DEAD GMA."
"She loved the exposure and attention from Survivor," Fairplay says.
"It didn't hurt that she thought Jeff Probst was one of the most handsome men on the planet. Jerry Springer invited her on his show as a guest, which she turned down because she was scared of his audience."
Fairplay also made light of his grandmother's final moments.
"Her dying words were something like, 'Jonny, I want to see you on Survivor 50, The Traitors, and Deal or No Deal Island,'" he says. "I had no idea she had so many streaming services."
https://ew.com/survivor-jonny-fairplay-says-grandmother-dead-22-years-after-he-lied-about-her-death-8788475
by Wesley Stenzel
February 10, 2025
EbRPviyO3SY
Jonny Fairplay has some sad news: His grandmother has died, for real this time.
The "Survivor" alum lied about his grandmother dying in a notorious, pivotal moment on the Pearl Islands season of the show in 2003, attempting to drum up sympathy from his fellow players.
Now he says the news of his grandma's death is true.
"I'll miss her every day," Fairplay tells Entertainment Weekly. "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. Which she did."
Fairplay's grandma was named Ellen Jean Hauser and went by her middle name. Born in 1934, Hauser dated Grand Ole Opry host Faron Young and had a fling with Robert Goulet, her grandson says. She died on Friday, Feb. 7, at Embrace Hospice House in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Hauser seemingly embraced her Survivor notoriety, as she had a custom license plate that read "DEAD GMA."
"She loved the exposure and attention from Survivor," Fairplay says.
"It didn't hurt that she thought Jeff Probst was one of the most handsome men on the planet. Jerry Springer invited her on his show as a guest, which she turned down because she was scared of his audience."
Fairplay also made light of his grandmother's final moments.
"Her dying words were something like, 'Jonny, I want to see you on Survivor 50, The Traitors, and Deal or No Deal Island,'" he says. "I had no idea she had so many streaming services."
https://ew.com/survivor-jonny-fairplay-says-grandmother-dead-22-years-after-he-lied-about-her-death-8788475