Colby Donaldson recently revealed that he nearly rejected the opportunity to return for Survivor Season 50: In the Hands of the Fans. He admitted it was an immediate yes at first, but as the departure date approached, he began to reconsider. Donaldson shared that he almost backed out due to ongoing career shifts, which made it difficult to take time off. However, once things fell into place both personally and professionally, his wife persuaded him to join the season. Ultimately, he accepted the offer, a decision he says he does not regret.

Colby Donaldson explains why he nearly didn’t join Survivor 50

In an exclusive interview with E! News at the New York City premiere, Donaldson revealed that he almost backed out of appearing in Survivor 50. He said, “It was an immediate yes for me initially. And then months later, as we began to approach the departure date, there was part of me that wanted to back out.”

He cited “career shifts” as the reason he nearly turned down the offer, explaining that it made it difficult for him to take time off. He believes this is a common challenge many contestants face and noted that there are likely several people who deserve to participate. However, they are unable to do so due to professional or family commitments. “It’s a sacrifice people have made for 25 years. There are a lot of people that would be great on the show, but can’t take that much time off work, or can’t be away from their family for responsibility reasons. So, I needed to look at that,” Donaldson added.

However, he ultimately decided to join the show after his wife, Britt Bailey, encouraged him to go for it, and his professional commitments aligned. Having no regrets over his decision, he explained, “That was the best decision I made. This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing the game.”