Courtney Yates and Stephen Fishbach: Timeline

The New York-based fan favorites met through Survivor in 2009, dated off-camera, and later went their separate ways.

What happened between Courtney Yates and Stephen Fishbach?

Split after a relationship that began in 2009. They competed on different seasons and met through the Survivor community in 2009.

Courtney Yates and Stephen Fishbach were not castmates: Courtney played China and Heroes vs. Villains, while Stephen debuted on Tocantins. Survivor relationship coverage says they met through the franchise in 2009 and began a romantic relationship after their separate seasons. That relationship later ended. Stephen revisited the relationship in a 2024 Drop Your Buffs interview, and by 2018 he had married Julia Lemle, providing a clear later-life marker without requiring speculation about Courtney’s private relationships. Reliable sources reviewed for this entry do not give a firm public breakup date, so the timeline does not invent one. The supported conclusion is simply that Courtney and Stephen dated post-show and are no longer a couple.

How their relationship unfolded

  1. They meet through Survivor

    Courtney and Stephen met after playing on different seasons and began dating off-camera.

  2. Stephen marries Julia Lemle

    Stephen’s later marriage supplies a documented endpoint showing his relationship with Courtney had ended.

  3. Stephen reflects on the relationship

    A Drop Your Buffs interview included Stephen’s retrospective discussion of dating Courtney.

Sources

  1. Survivor couple status check E! News 2026-02-27
  2. Interview: Stephen Fishbach Drop Your Buffs via Apple Podcasts 2024-07-19
  3. Julia Lemle and Stephen Fishbach wedding The New York Times 2018-06-10
Courtney Yates2 seasons32 connections

Seasons S15S20

Best placement 2nd of 16, Finalist

Career 63 days across 2 appearances

Stephen Fishbach2 seasons34 connections

Seasons S18S31

Best placement 2nd of 16, Finalist

Career 68 days across 2 appearances

How their Survivor records compare

Across their full Survivor careers, Courtney Yates and Stephen Fishbach have made 4 combined appearances and recorded 131 combined player-days. Courtney Yates has played 63 days; Stephen Fishbach has played 68.

Where to go next

Courtney Yates's full profile

Every season, placement, days played and castmate connection on record.

Stephen Fishbach's full profile

Every season, placement, days played and castmate connection on record.

Trace the connection path

See the shortest chain of shared seasons linking Courtney Yates to Stephen Fishbach.