Skip to main content

Survivor Winners at War is making history every week with all of the new milestones the show keeps hitting. It’s hard to believe that a 20th anniversary season could have so many firsts — like the time when Boston Rob Mariano made everyone empty their bags at Tribal Council. Let’s take a look at whether episode 4 of Survivor 40 held a first for Denise Stapley?

Denise Stapley
Denise Stapley | Timothy Kuratek/CBS via Getty Images

Did Denise Stapley go to all of the Tribal Councils during ‘Survivor: Philippines?’

During her first time playing Survivor, Denise ended up stuck on the losing Matsing tribe with Malcolm Freberg. Their tribe lost every single immunity challenge before the merge. However, Denise was the only member of Matsing not to receive any votes before the tribe dissolved. 

The 41-year-old sex therapist from Cedar Rapids Iowa is the only contestant ever to witness all fifteen eliminations in a single season. Although she went through the worst losing streak imaginable, she came out on top. Denise won the title of sole survivor in a 6-1-1 vote.

Did Denise Staple break her losing streak on ‘Survivor 40: Winners at War’?

Luckily for Denise, her tribe — Sele — on Winners at War has not lost every single immunity challenge as she did on Matsing. They lost the very first challenge of the season; however, during that season premiere, she did get to sit out one tribal — when Dakal lost. 

During episodes 2 and 3 of Survivor 40, Denise’s tribe again went to Tribal Council. Luckily she did not get voted out and lived to see a whole different tribe attend tribal in episode 4. Denise’s fans went wild over one episode that they did not have to worry about her getting sent to the Edge of Extinction. 

Denise Stapley’s fans are rejoicing that the curse is broken

On Survivor: Philippines Denise thought she was cursed when she ended up at tribal even after the tribes swapped. However, fans feel that the curse has finally been broken.

“This is the first episode in Survivor history that Denise has NOT attended tribal council,” one Reddit user posted. 

Many viewers pick Denise to go all the way and win the title of sole survivor, so they were rejoicing when she did not have to attend Tribal Council.

“That was a weird feeling I’ve never felt so secure in my winner pick,” added another fan.

“While we didn’t get any confessional from Denise, it seems like she is still in a pretty solid position on her tribe,” wrote one viewer. “We haven’t heard her name once, and she seems to have Ben, Michele, and Jeremy on her side.”

Fans are hoping she continues to skip the tribal councils until individual immunity challenges begin. 

Best in Entertainment