A showmance free season.

Kate and AJ on Australian Survivor

AJ Antonios cast an Australian Survivor-ending vote against his close ally Kate Gloufchis at the final five Tribal Council, shocking viewers after watching their strong bond all season.

Kate and AJ formed a connection immediately after being put on the same tribe at Merge in the first Reward Challenge.

After AJ dropped out of the challenge, he sat by Kate — who was still competing — and made small talk with her. When Kate won, she picked AJ to go on the Reward with her, which involved an afternoon of cocktails in the sun.
Kate and AJ at the first Merge Reward ChallengeKate and AJ at the first Merge Reward Challenge. Image: Ten.
Later that day, AJ pulled Kate aside, showered her with compliments, and repeatedly pointed out how beautiful her eyes were. The interaction between the two had fans questioning whether there was a budding showmance behind the scenes.

“AJ buttering up Kate with compliments gave me second-hand embarrassment,” one person wrote on Reddit. Another added: “The pretty eyes was too much! Ick flirting for sure.”

A third person pointed out that AJ’s chit chat with Kate got him a spot at the cocktail reward.

Was AJ flirting with Kate on Survivor?

Kate has set on the record straight in an interview with Chattr about whether it felt like AJ was flirting with her on the Survivor beach.

“No,” she laughed. “He was complimentary to everyone.”

“He’ll be like, ‘You have the best hair’. He’ll be like, ‘I love your necklace’. If he sees something he likes about you, he will tell you.”
Morgan, Kate, AJ, Kristin and Paulie at Survivor Merge.Morgan, Kate, AJ, Kristin and Paulie at Merge. Image: Ten.
However, Kate did say that she thinks his flattery may have had something to do with convincing her to work with him.

“I think, maybe, he could have used it as a strategy when we first met each other on that beach. But keep in mind, we did have quite a few cocktails then as well, so that could have just been just a nice AJ compliment,” she laughed.

“He’s just really like that. He would do it to everyone. He even told PD he’s got nice eyes!

“We were just really good friends.”

There you have it; Australian Survivor 2025 is officially showmance-free!