Survivor 45 Update: The Controversial Relationship Between Dee Valladares and Austin Li Coon

Survivor season 45 witnessed an unexpected romantic pairing between standout players Dee Valladeres and Austin Li Coon. Both 28 years old, the duo formed a formidable alliance, methodically eliminating their competitors throughout the season, often pulling off strategic blindsides. Despite their deepening bond, they kept their romance discreet initially, only revealing their feelings as the game progressed.

The undeniable chemistry between Dee and Austin significantly influenced their performance in the game. Their alliance proved advantageous in a competition where teamwork is paramount. During the pivotal final Tribal Council, the couple exchanged pointed remarks, demonstrating the tension that had developed. Ultimately, Dee emerged victorious as the Sole Survivor, taking home the million-dollar prize, while Austin secured the runner-up position. This raises the question: are Dee and Austin still together, or did their romance fizzle out post-show?

The Showmance between Dee & Austin

The Impact of Their Romance on Gameplay

Austin’s romantic feelings for Dee added layers of complexity to his strategy. His adept gameplay enabled him to wield considerable influence, even managing to hold two immunity idols at one point. Ultimately, he decided to entrust one idol to fellow contestant Julie Alley for safekeeping, but it never returned to him. Remarkably, despite these challenges, Dee and Austin found themselves in the finale together.

Conversely, Dee maintained her focus amidst the romantic entanglement. At the final Tribal Council, she revealed how she outmaneuvered Austin. After learning of his plan to blindside Julie, Dee discreetly advised Julie to utilize her immunity idol, leading to a pivotal moment in their game. This strategic decision resulted in Austin’s downfall, as he lost to Dee in a close 5-3 jury vote.

Post-Show Relationship of Dee & Austin

Frequent Encounters After the Show

Following their time on Survivor, Dee and Austin continued their romance. In a September 2023 interview with Yahoo, Austin provided a relationship update, confirming that they had met several times since the conclusion of the show. However, he indicated that they prefer to keep their relationship private for the time being.

The Current State of Dee & Austin’s Relationship

Austin’s New Relationship

In a surprising turn of events, Austin announced a new romantic relationship via Instagram in September. He shared photos featuring himself and his new partner, Amanda, who is notably the niece of Survivor host Jeff Probst. In his announcement, he mentioned that he and Dee had parted ways “respectfully,”yet he didn’t specify when their relationship concluded or its duration. Despite the end of his romance with Dee, Austin and Amanda appear to be enjoying a blissful relationship built on their shared love for Survivor.