In one of the most entertaining moments in an otherwise lackluster Survivor 48, jury member David Kinne silently stood up at tribal council when Mary Zheng was voted out. In Touch takes a look at his bold move and what other contestants and viewers thought of it.

Why Did David Stand on ‘Survivor’ 48 During Tribal Council?

When Mary’s name was revealed as the castaway voted out in the week 11 episode that aired on May 7, 2025, David stood up from the jury section in a tribute to his former alliance mate. He was already solemnly on his feet before Mary had time to gather her torch, which host Jeff Probst subsequently snuffed out.

David remained standing while Jeff told Mary “the tribe has spoken” and didn’t sit down until after she departed the set.

Some Contestants Laughed at David Standing Up

Upon David rising to his feet, the camera cut away to show several members still in the competition trying to hold back their laughter. Kamilla Karthigesu was seen smiling hard and on the verge of breaking out in hysterics, while Shauhin Davari was also smiling and amused. Star Toomey, who was eliminated in week 10, covered her mouth to hide her laughter while sitting behind David in the jury area.

Star even posted to X about the moment after it aired, writing, “Somebody tell this man to sit tf down I’m trying so hard not to laugh.”

However, the Atlanta resident also realized that David was showing his admiration for Mary being able to keep going until that point in the game, as she retweeted a fan’s post showing David standing with the message, “If I send you this just know I respect u.”

Mary Zheng Found David Standing Up for Her at Tribal Council ‘Hilarious’

“I wanted to cry out of sadness when I got voted out. And I did not expect that I would be crying out of f–king laughter at David standing up,” Mary told Parade on May 8, 2025, after watching what happened when the episode aired.

“I had heard about that moment. Honestly, I did not see that when it was happening. I was out of body when it was all going down. And I had heard people be like, ‘Yo, David stood up,’ and I’m like, The f–k? Like, stood up and sat down? What’s going on?'” she continued.

“And to watch him literally stand up, as if I’m his fallen comrade. I love David so much. That was hilarious. David has always been … he’s got a lot of heart. And in that moment, he was feeling it. So, yes, f–king hilarious,” Mary added. “And also, Star trying to hold back her laughter, trying to be like as polite as she could, literally, while in her mind, thinking, ‘God damn David, sit your ass down!'”

How Did ‘Survivor’ Fans React to David Standing Up for Mary?

Viewers had widely mixed reactions about David’s gesture.

Some fans who have grown weary of the lack of surprises and blindsides during season 48 loved that the stunt performer brought some much needed drama.

“I’m so sorry but this is THE moment of the season for me. The solemn look on David’s face as he rises to pay his final respects for Mary … A+, no notes, incredible work,” one viewer wrote on X.

“THIS, is the BIGGEST move of the season. HOW, IS DAVID, STANDING, THE BIGGEST MOVE. OF THE SEASON. CUT THE CAMERAS, this season SUCKS,” a second fan huffed on X.

“David might be the cringiest Survivor player of all time. Sit your big ass down,” a third viewer posted, while a fourth wrote on X, “We all know David felt so hardcore standing up like that, but everyone was absolutely dying of laughter at him.” A fifth added, “David still somehow making it about him from the jury bench. So embarrassing.”

What Happened to David on Survivor 48?

David and Mary formed a bond when they were put together in the new Lagi tribe prior to the merge. After the merge, David joined an alliance of physically strong players including Shauhin, Joe Hunter, Eva Erickson and Kyle Fraser, who vowed to play the game with integrity, honesty and no backstabbing.

Kyle and Kamilla managed to keep their undercover alliance a secret from everyone else. When the strong five thought about voting out Kamilla, Kylie jumped in to suggest Chrissy Sarnowsky instead, who was voted out in week 8 by the alliance.

David began to suspect Kyle and Kamilla were working together when the lawyer kept diverting attention to voting out other players every time the California resident brought up her name as a target. Kyle was able to convince the other strong five members that David was being “paranoid” and causing issues within their group.

At tribal council in week 9, David’s alliance members turned against him with a blindside at tribal council by voting him out. David was genuinely stunned, even turning to Joe with a blistering glare for going against his word. The firefighter had previously sworn to David that he would tell him if he ever planned to cast a vote against him, but Kyle and Shauhin got Joe and Eva to flip and vote David out.

Mary was genuinely shocked and left without an ally on the island. She managed to hang on for another week when Star was eliminated. Mary hatched a plan in week 11 to get Kamilla, Kyle, Shauhin and Mitch Guerra to join her in voting out Joe, who had become the obvious frontrunner through his dominance at immunity challenges.

It appeared everyone wanted to go along with Mary’s plan and blindside Joe before he could make it to the final and while they still had the numbers to eliminate him. Kamilla’s victory in the immunity challenge left Joe an open and obvious target, although he remained oblivious to the plan.

When Jeff began reading off the names at tribal council, it was clear everyone had backed out of Mary’s plan and she was voted out.

Survivor viewers were stunned by the shockingly bad game play, with one person writing on X, “I like Joe. I think he’s a great guy. He’s a great social player. I’m not even rooting against him. But for the love of God, if they don’t blindside him tonight it will be the most mind boggling and dumbest thing I have ever seen.”