Jeff Zausch Isn’t Quitting ‘Naked and Afraid,’ Says His Journey Isn’t ‘Complete’
Jeff Zausch will be back. The Naked and Afraid star’s latest Last One Standing experience might not have played out how he expected, but he isn’t letting that disappointment dampen his spirit. Despite hinting in the Last One Standing Season 2 finale that he wouldn’t return for another season of the Discovery Channel reality show, Jeff now says he’s ready for another challenge.
Jeff Zausch fell short in the ‘Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing’ Season 2 finale
Jeff is a seasoned Naked and Afraid veteran who’s completed eight of the show’s legendary challenges (including two 60-day challenges). But Last One Standing proved to be the beast he couldn’t tame.
In Last One Standing Season 1, Jeff was eliminated in the final stage of the competition after he spent days trying – and failing – to start a friction fire. He returned for his “revenge tour” in season 2, but again fell short. This time, he failed to become one of three survivalists to advance to the last leg of the competition. Once again, it was a friction-fire challenge that bested him.
In a post-elimination interview, the usually cocky Jeff admitted that he was outplayed by stronger competitors.
“I’m disappointed in the result, but I just have to admit to myself that I wasn’t the best out here on this Last One Standing. I wasn’t. I got beat by folks that used better strategy,” he said.
Jeff said he was going home ‘one last time’ in the ‘Last One Standing’ finale
Jeff made his Naked and Afraid debut in 2014 on a 21-day challenge in Madagascar. Since then, he’s logged close to 300 days on the show. But in the finale, he hinted that his time with the franchise was at an end.
“I gave it my absolute everything. And how can I be upset at that? … If this is the last time that I put on this Naked and Afraid satchel, I know that I’ve given these past 10 years every ounce of my heart and my strength,” he said, adding that he felt like he “completed my journey” on this Last One Standing.
“Two hundred and eighty-six days in my Naked and Afraid career,” he said. “And you know, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. This journey is complete for me. And I’m coming home for one last time. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me for a decade. I’m gonna put some clothes on now and get a real job.”
Jeff clarifies he’s not quitting, says his story ‘has not been told in its entirety’
Many fans were disappointed to hear that Jeff’s Naked and Afraid career might be over. Fortunately, a few days after the finale aired, he took to Instagram to say he was not retiring after all.
“I have nothing left to prove. I’ve dominated these challenges for the past 11 years. I’ve done it all,” he wrote. But the survivalist went on to say that he wondered by he “still yearn[ed] to feel the warm African dirt between my toes” and “still dream[ed] of those pink Colombian sunsets.”
“I think the answer is simple,” he wrote. “Because my journey is not yet complete. This story has not been told in its entirety! There is still more meat on this mother f#%$g bone!!
“I didn’t come this far, to only come this far,” he concluded. “See you all soon…”
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