‘Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing’: Jeff and Gary Weigh In On Rivalry With Patrick: ‘He Can’t Let Go’
Some people take Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing way too personally. At least, that’s what Jeff Zausch and Gary Golding think. The season 2 cast members recently weighed in on the second season of the Discovery Channel reality series and their apparent rivalry with fellow survivalist Patrick French.
Gary Golding and Jeff Zausch have ‘respect for each other’
On Last One Standing, Gary and Jeff, along with other Naked and Afraid vets, are fighting for the show’s $100,000 grand prize. But that on-screen competition hasn’t led to any bad feelings between the pair in the real world. On Sept. 9, Gary joined Jeff for an Instagram live chat where they discussed the current season of the show, which will wrap up with the highly anticipated season finale on Sept. 15.
Both Gary and Jeff appeared in the inaugural season of Last One Standing in 2023. They returned for the show’s sophomore outing. Over their weeks together in the African wilderness, they’ve developed a serious “respect for each other,” Gary explained.
Jeff has always been adamant that Last One Standing is not just a survival show, but also a genuine competition. During season 1, he made it clear that he was disappointed that not all of his fellow cast members approached the experience the same way. He’s also said he felt targeted by a group of “mean girls” who conspired to ostracize him. But Gary was different.
“You were not a follower on season 1. You did it your own way,” Jeff said. “You were always respectful to me … we have each other’s backs.”
Gary’s behavior in season 1 paid off in season 2. When Jeff killed an impala in the Sept. 8 episode, he shared a generous part of the animal with Gary.
“It’s absolutely true. If someone has my back, I’m going to have theirs,” Jeff said. “I am loyal to the core … For people that have had my back, I remember that.”
‘Last One Standing’ cast member Patrick French ‘seems to really, really not like Mr. Gary Golding’
Gary and Jeff say they’re able to respect each other even when they’re fighting for the show’s six-figure prize. But the same can’t be said for fellow cast member Patrick. Though he’s taken aim at both Jeff and Gary, he seems to have a real issue with the latter. (In a recent post on his Facebook, he even covered up Gary’s face with a clown emoji.)
“I see him coming after you in a more personal attack,” Jeff said to Gary during their chat. “He seems to really, really not like Mr. Gary Golding.”
“He can’t let go,” Gary said. “Every time I try to extend an olive branch, [he rejects it].”
The bad vibes seem to stem from a dispute over knives earlier in the season. But the negativity has apparently lasted beyond filming, with Gary accusing Patrick of going after him outside the show. That’s out of line, Jeff says.
“I do not believe you should take anything personally that happens during a competition,” he argued.
Meanwhile, Gary and Jeff say they don’t have anything to prove. After completing multiple challenges, both have earned their status among Naked and Afraid’s most successful survivalists.
“Two legends. We’ve got more days on Naked and Afraid than anybody else out there,” Jeff said.
“I have the fourth-most days on Naked and Afraid. I’m not calling myself a legend,” Gary said, adding that “it’s been a climb to get to where I’m at.”
Patrick, who has participated in one Naked and Afraid challenge and was also a cast member on Naked and Afraid: Castaways, just isn’t at the same level, according to Gary.
“You don’t just get to label yourself something and that’s how it works,” Gary said. Instead, the elite players “let everything speak for itself.”
The Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Season 2 finale airs Sunday, Sept. 15 on Discovery Channel.
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