Alec Merlino Seasons S37
Best placement 10th of 20, Jury
Career 28 days across 1 appearance
Alec Merlino and Kara Kay: Relationship Timeline
Alec and Kara left David vs. Goliath as a real-world couple, then eventually separated on good terms.
What happened between Alec Merlino and Kara Kay?
Split; Alec described it as amicable in 2021. They met as castaways on Survivor: David vs. Goliath and began dating after the game.
Alec Merlino and Kara Kay competed together on Survivor: David vs. Goliath, where their connection continued beyond the island. Their relationship became public around the season, although Alec’s premature social-media post with Kara also created a separate production controversy. In a February 2019 interview, the pair described moving from friendship into a long-distance relationship after filming. By June 2021, Alec told Entertainment Weekly that they had broken up “a while ago.” He characterized the separation as normal and amicable, said they were in different places in life, and spoke warmly about Kara. That direct account supports a split status without speculating about an exact breakup date or either person’s later private life.
How their relationship unfolded
- A pre-season photo draws a penalty
TMZ reported that Alec posted a photo with Kara before the cast reveal, violating his confidentiality agreement and prompting production penalties.
- They discuss dating after the show
In an E! interview, Alec and Kara described a friendship that became a long-distance relationship after filming.
- Alec confirms the breakup
Alec told Entertainment Weekly that they had split a while earlier and called the breakup normal and amicable.
Why was Alec absent from the David vs. Goliath reunion?
Documented production penalty; no evidence it caused the breakup. TMZ reported that his pre-cast social post with Kara breached his confidentiality agreement, leading to a withheld appearance fee and reunion disinvite. That production dispute is separate from why the relationship later ended.
Sources
- Alec Merlino’s quarantine questionnaire Entertainment Weekly 2021-06-11
- Alec Merlino and Kara Kay’s Survivor love story E! News 2019-02-12
- Report on the pre-season confidentiality breach TMZ 2018-05-17
How their Survivor records compare
Across their full Survivor careers, Alec Merlino and Kara Kay have made 2 combined appearances and recorded 66 combined player-days. Alec Merlino has played 28 days; Kara Kay has played 38.
On the season they shared, Alec Merlino recorded 28 days and Kara Kay recorded 38, for 66 combined player-days across those appearances. In completed head-to-head seasons, Alec Merlino placed higher 0 times, Kara Kay placed higher 1 time.
- On Survivor 37, Alec Merlino finished 10th of 20, Jury, while Kara Kay finished 4th of 20, Jury. Their runs lasted 28 and 38 days, respectively.
Seasons they played together
| Season | Alec Merlino placement | Kara Kay placement |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor 37 (2018) | 10th of 20, Jury 28 days | 4th of 20, Jury 38 days |