Newly-minted Australian Survivor host David ‘Golden God’ Genat has revealed that he and legendary OG host Jonathan LaPaglia aren’t friends after he officially took hosting reins last year. The host has spoken.
Although the premiere of Australia Survivor: Redemption is around the corner, it appears that the Survivor fanbase is still torn with the network’s decision to replace LaPaglia with Genat as host.
To give you a quick recap, in 2025, Network 10 sent the Survivor fanbase into a tizzy after it confirmed that LaPaglia had been axed after 10 years of snuffing out tribal torches, with Australian Survivor: Australia v The World marking his last stint as host.
Shortly after the Golden God was voted out of the Australia v The World spin-off, Network 10 confirmed that he will be taking on hosting duties following LaPaglia’s shock dumping.
Since then, Genat has remained tight-lipped about the decision and how it affected his relationship with the legendary Australian Survivor host.
Until now.
Australian Survivor ‘s David Genat says he’s ‘not friends’ with Jonathan LaPaglia
With Australian Survivor: Redemption premiering on Monday, February 23, the Golden God has been making the media rounds promoting the show’s new era.
Speaking to The Hit Network’s Carrie & Tommy, Genat shared a glimpse of where he stands with LaPaglia now after Carrie Bickmore asked if things were “awks” between them.
“I was not involved in the break-up, but I sent him a message. He’s done such an amazing thing with this show, and his legacy can’t be touched. I’m just trying to build on it and make it my own and continue making it the greatest show,” Genat said before confirming he messaged back.
“I wouldn’t say we’re friends. But it’s fine. Of course, you’re upset when you lose a job, but I’ve lost so many jobs and been upset. It was not my fault, so what can he say?”
Last week, Genat admitted to Stellar that he was “surprised” LaPaglia felt “blindsided” by the Network’s decision to change hosts, as there’d been screen tests and auditions for a new host at least five years before he clocked the role.
“I wouldn’t say that Jonathan and I were friends. I didn’t know him that well, but we were friendly. Cordial,” Genat admitted.
“I reached out when everything was happening just to say, ‘Listen, dude, it obviously has nothing to do with me, but I just wanted to tell you, I think you’ve been an amazing host. What you’ve done for this franchise, no one can replicate that. I’m just going to try to do my best to pay homage to what you’ve done’.”
LaPaglia has yet to respond to Genat’s recent comments. However, at the time of his departure, the Australian Survivor OG was very open about how he felt about the network’s decision, describing the firing as a “blindside” and that it was “disappointing”. LaPaglia was also spotted liking shady comments about Genat at the time.
But eventually, LaPaglia offered well wishes to Genat when Network 10 officially made the announcement.
Regardless of the beef, we will definitely be giving Genat his flowers when Australian Survivor: Redemption kicks off on Monday AND we will be supporting daddy LaPaglia on his next journey.
