TV

In a twist no one could’ve predicted, the Logan Airport employee tried to vote himself off, then took himself out — sparking online debate and hate.

By Lauren Daley

October 15, 2026 | 9:18 AM

6 minutes to read

Welp, we predicted “Rob from Rhode Island” would make this a wild season of “Survivor.” 

We just never could’ve predicted how wild.

In 3 episodes, Cumberland, R.I.’s Rob Antonson broke the internet. 

If you’re not caught up: On episode 2 of “Survivor,” the Logan Airport gate agent tried to vote himself off the show. He took fellow Rhody native Eric Macksoud aside, whispered that he planned to give Eric his immunity idol, then proceeded to vote himself off the island. A producer broke the fourth wall to tell Antonson you can’t do that. “Oh no? [Expletive.] That screws up everything,” said Antonson.

On Episode 3, which aired last week, we see Antonson lying alone on a beach. He reveals he stepped on something in the ocean, apparently off camera.  The show’s medic takes a look and says he doesn’t see anything wrong. Rob asks if it could get infected. The doc says yes, there’s always a possibility of infection with cuts.

So the dad of three announced he was leaving.

The twist shocked his tribe — and, seemingly, host Jeff Probst. Some in his tribe were skeptical. What injury? When? 

It was a sentiment echoed by Internet commenters this week. There are Reddit threads, Facebook posts, tweets, Instagram reels, memes. Antonson says he’s spent the last week online defending himself against “cyberbullies.”

“I’ve been getting so much hate online. I’m the villain of reality TV right now,” Antonson, 40, says with a laugh in a recent Zoom. “But it’s OK. I’m tough. I can take it.”

If you read our first interview — where he talked about everything from Mario Kart to indecent exposure at Logan — you know Antonson is All Personality. 

A Cumberland, R.I., basement nook serves as the backdrop for his YouTube channel, “Rob Show” (or @realrobshow). He’s parodied Backstreet Boys, reviewed burgers, and discussed “Love Island.”

Since leaving the show, he’s used his home studio to “fight the haters with kindness.” He’s started a new series, “To Catch a Hater.”  And — right on brand— to lip sync to Green Day’s “Time of your Life” over his “Survivor” montage.

“I’m getting all the hate. It’s unbelievable. But I’m just killing them with kindness,” he says. “TV is all about ratings. So the more you keep hating, you’re just building up this character — shows are gonna want to bring me on just so then the haters can go watch.”

With New Jersey native and Providence resident Aaliyah Puglia already voted off, Macksoud — a Lincoln, R.I., native now living in Windsor Locks, Conn. — is the last New Englander standing. The prize: $1 million.

Prior to Episode 4’s airing on Wednesday, we Zoomed to ask about the foot, why he left, dealing with online hate, and what’s next. 

Boston.com: So what happened?

Rob Antonson: [laughs] Well, Lauren, let me start from the beginning. On Day 3, I walked into the ocean, stepped on something, got hurt, didn’t tell anybody about it. The doctor always gave us checkups. CBS “Survivor,” they’re great with that, always checking up. I told the doc, “No, no, no, I’m good.” 

When in reality, I was nowhere near good. I definitely had something going on with my foot that led up to my leg, that I was dealing with through Day 4, Day 5, leading up to the whole debacle [laughs], voting for myself.

At that point in the game — I wasn’t sleeping, you barely eat or drink out there — the pain got to a point that I’m like, “My leg’s just not going farther.” 

You tried to vote yourself off in Episode 2.

It came to a point that I’m like, “OK, I’m gonna do Rhode Island a big favor, vote myself off, and give my idol to Eric,” thinking the whole vote is still on Eric.  I never talked [strategy] with anybody else, so I didn’t know the vote changed. Then I find out I can’t vote for myself! [laughs]  

Listen, you gotta understand. I’m not in the right state of mind. I’ve been hurt. Dealing with no sleep, dealing with [minimal] eating, drinking — I was delirious. I brought it on myself. I went down in, I guess, “Survivor” history.

When did you give the idol to Carter? I didn’t see that on camera.

I was in an alliance with Ana and Carter. When Ana was voted off, we went back to the boat. I did the “Survivor” producers no favors because I did it off camera. The freaking cameras didn’t even get it. But I felt like the cameras would’ve given it away. I slipped it to him. He’s like, “Is this the idol?” I’m like, “Dude, can you shut up?” [laughs]

So you were on the island for six days. What’s the situation there? There’s not much food?

Listen: “Survivor” is real. Whoever thinks it’s this TV show where they’re telling you where to go, that’s complete bulls—. It’s as real as it comes. 

Most people don’t realize how hard it is. You think “I’ve been doing marathons; I’m physically good to go” — until you get hurt. You’re like, “OK, I’ll be great at the social game” — until you don’t eat. Don’t drink water. Don’t sleep. Everything changes. That’s what led up to that vote. My brain was fried.

If I told the doc as soon as it happened on Day 3, I probably could’ve gotten medical attention, maybe antibiotics. Everything would’ve been good. Instead, it led to Day 6, me going out, and the audience and my whole tribe thinking: What just happened? How did he just go?

Everyone’s like, “Oh, you just quit over a paper cut. You just bounced.” But that’s my fault because I never said anything on Day 3, and they had no video footage of me getting hurt. So I did it to myself, Lauren.

Any regrets? You told me in our first interview you’d been trying to get on the show since you were in your 20s. 

That’s why I’m so emotional over it. Because the haters out there think I did all of this to get on this show just to say: “I’m leaving.” But again, people just go by what they see. It is what it is. I did it to myself.

My biggest regret is I should’ve said something on Day 3. But my dad brought me up to be tough. Don’t share your feelings. If you’re hurt, don’t say anything about it. That’s why I did it. That’s my biggest regret.

How do you feel now? I know this taped in April. You said you can’t talk about what happened right after you left the island.

I’m good now. Again, if I said something, I probably would’ve been good to go. So now I just gotta deal with all the backlash.

I saw you started an Instagram series, “To Catch a Hater.”

Before this, I was doing content creating — sports and stuff like that. Now it’s just a full-fledged fight against the haters. Literally, they’re cyberbullies. If you look up the definition of cyberbullies, that’s what these people are.

So now you’re back to work at Logan, back to normal life in Rhode Island.

Back to being a dad. My wife is a per diem nurse in California, so I’m taking care of three kids by myself right now. That’s what it came down to. If I was a single guy with no responsibilities, no kids, I would have died on the island. 

Would you do another reality TV show?

Of course. I’d love to come back to “Survivor” and prove to the world what I’m capable of.  If another reality show wants to bring me on, I’m down for it. I’m ready to show the world who I am.

It just is what it is. You put yourself on national television and [under] that microscope. I’m gonna be back. Get that popcorn ready.

Interview has been edited and condensed. Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1 and Instagrams at @laurendaley1.

Lauren Daley

Lauren Daley is a longtime culture journalist who covers music, books, comedy, TV, and New England life.

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