The latest scoop reveals that Natalie Cole, possibly alongside her iconic jacket, might be making a comeback to Survivor. A member of the David vs. Goliath cast, Cole recently made a cameo appearance in the season 3 premiere of HBO’s The White Lotus, sharing the screen with Carl Boudreaux, all thanks to her former Goliath tribe mate turned creator-showrunner of the show, Mike White. During the premiere event in Los Angeles, Cole bumped into none other than the beloved Survivor host Jeff Probst, leading to a significant conversation about the forthcoming monumental 50th season of the CBS reality competition series.
“We delved into Season 50, and that’s all I can reveal for now,” Cole shared with Entertainment Weekly. “I can say we sealed it with a hug, though. Parvati [Shallow] and I also had a chat about it, and she couldn’t resist bringing up the jacket, which prompted a good laugh between us.”
Natalie “Napalm” Cole certainly made an unforgettable impression during her time on Survivor, as the publishing CEO fearlessly embraced conflicts within her tribe and adamantly held onto her jacket even after being voted out on day 15. This bold move not only solidified her place in Survivor lore but also remains a topic of discussion in her interactions, even while on the set of The White Lotus in Thailand.
“Mike and I revisited the saga of that infamous jacket,” Cole revealed. “It was Angelina [Keeley] pulling the strings all along. Even when she expressed interest in Nick [Wilson]’s jacket, I had my own, and she allowed me to take the blame. Eventually, I had to call her out, ‘Angelina, did you have something to say, little troublemaker?'”
Keeley was part of the elaborate plan to blindside Cole, yet she strategically voted for another tribe member to feign loyalty to Cole. “Her vote for Lyrsa [Torres] was merely a ploy to deceive me and swipe my jacket,” Cole explained. Despite Keeley’s desperate efforts as Cole’s torch was extinguished, Cole maintained her composure, creating a meme-worthy iconic moment.
Reflecting on the betrayal, Cole shared, “As she came to hug me, I instantly knew, ‘Ah, she set me up.’ Now, that would have truly riled me up if I had handed over my jacket, only to be made a fool of.”
If Cole does make a return for the momentous Season 50, one thing is for sure – the spotlight will not only be on her but also on her legendary jacket making a comeback.
