Highlights
- Jonny Fairplay, known for his “dead grandma” lie on Survivor: Pearl Islands, recently placed 4th on House Of Villains and hosts the Reality After Show podcast.
- He works as a realtor in Virginia and creates personal Cameo videos for fans.
- Fairplay still attends Survivor viewing parties and would return to the show if asked, considering his “dead grandma” lie his proudest moment on TV.
Jonny Fairplay made a name for himself on the small screen as one of reality television’s original villains when he invented the iconic “dead grandma” lie on Survivor: Pearl Islands.
The scheming star hasn’t stepped away from the spotlight and is still up to shenanigans.
This article will reveal where Jonny Fairplay is now. Then, it will highlight his moments that shocked television watchers across America.
What Is Jonny Fairplay Doing Now?
Jonny Fairplay, whose real name is actually Jon Dalton, most recently placed 4th on House Of Villains. The show on E! put him in a house with reality television royalty known for creating chaos like Omarosa Manigault Newman (The Apprentice and former adviser to President Trump), Tiffany “New York” Pollard (I Love New York), Jax Taylor (Vanderpump Rules and The Valley) and Corinna Olympios (Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor).
The entertainment personality hosts the
Reality After Show
podcast that distributes multiple episodes per week. By day, Jonny works as a realtor in Virginia.
The blonde even films personal Cameo videos for only $29. Fans can purchase roasts, birthday messages and pep talks.
In 2024, he still attends free viewing parties across America to watch Survivor and told Entertainment Weekly in 2020 that he would return to the show if he was asked.
Related
What was the most mean spirited moment from Survivor history?
Unfortunately for Survivor players and fans alike, there have been a lot of moments of outright bullying on the show. One of the most obvious examples of that is how Shirin Oskooi was treated during Survivor: Worlds Apart. While instances like those were awful, they mostly seemed to be motivated by spur-of-the-moment anger and personality flaws. However, when Brenda Lowe intentionally humiliated Dawn Meehan, that appeared to be premeditated and mean-spirited behavior. During the final tribal council, Lowe told Meehan she had to remove her fake teeth to get her vote. Meehan had previously told Lowe how terrified she was of being seen in public without her fake teeth. Despite that, Meehan removed her fake teeth and then Lowe still didn’t vote for her.
How Jonny Pulled The “Dead Grandma” Lie To Win A Survivor Reward Challenge
One of the most iconic moments that ever happened in the franchise was when deceitful Jonny lied about his grandma passing away in order to win a challenge.
In Survivor: Pearl Islands, Jonny planned to have his friend come on the show and tell him that his grandmother died. During the scene, he acted out an entire meltdown which caused his tribemates to get very emotional and vote for him to win a reward challenge so he could find out how she died. But it was all a lie because she was alive the entire time!
During an interview in 2020 with Entertainment Weekly, he said the shocking “Dead Grandma” ruse is still his proudest moment on television.
There had been ‘bad guys’ prior to me on reality TV, but they never sought out that personification. They claimed bad editing or creative storytelling. I embraced the role and reveled in it.
The sympathy vote allowed him spend time with his friend alone at camp as other cast members were stuck on a separate beach and prevented from spending time with their loved ones.
Host Jeff Probst said it was the “greatest lie ever told on Survivor.”
It was actually fun to work with Fairplay on the show because he’s a producer’s dream. when he shows up drunk or flips somebody off, he’s bringing you gold every time. I wish we had a Jonny Fairplay every season.
He finished in third place during his first season of the show in 2003.
In 2008, he made a brief appearance on Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites but asked to be voted out of the tribe because he was missing his pregnant girlfriend.
What Other Shows Has Jonny Fairplay Appeared In?
Jonny Fairplay jumped back into mainstream spotlight while being a cast member in House Of Villains on E!
The show combined a tribe of reality television icons and he was part of banishing Vanderpump Rules bad boy Jax Taylor after purposely causing him to lose a redemption challenge which eventually led to him being the first person booted off the show.
Related
What Survivor moment made the show’s casting department seem irresponsible?
During Survivor: Caramoan, Brandon Hantz and Phillip Sheppard were placed on the same tribe. The two obviously passionate men grew to be extremely angry with each other very quickly. That ultimately led to Hantz pouring out a major part of his tribe’s food in a shocking moment. After that, Hantz seemed to be completely overcome with furious anger for Sheppard as Jeff Probst did what he could to keep the men apart. Seeing one player seemingly poised to possibly attack another made Survivor’s casting department look bad. After all, at the very least they should have been able to predict that having Hantz and Sheppard on the same island would likely be a toxic and possibiliy dangerous recipe.
When Jax confronted him about sabotaging him, he lied about it and the Bravo star believed him.
The two have made up off camera though, and they co-hosted the
Survivor 46
Finale Party at Jax’s bar in Los Angeles in May 2024.
Jonny brought back waterworks later in the season when his bromance with Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio went south as The Challenge star accused him of betraying him.
Still, Jonny gave a tearful effort to tug on his Johnny Bananas heartstrings.
I love you. You’re a friend. And this f–ing hurts.
| Placement |
Cast Member |
| Winner |
Tanisha Thomas |
| 2nd |
Johnny Bananas |
| 3rd |
Anfisa Arkhipchenko |
| 4th |
Jonny Fairplay |
| 5th |
Shake Chatterjee |
| 6th |
Omarosa |
| 7th |
Bobby Lytes |
| 8th |
Corrine Olympios |
| 9th |
Tiffany “New York” Pollard |
| 10th |
Jax Taylor |
The reality television star doesn’t appear to be picky on which shows he will go on. He has appeared on Family Feud, Celebrity Poker Showdown, Fear Factor, Judge Mathis, Camp Reality and Dr. Phil over the years.
In 2022, he even appeared in an episode of Judge Steve Harvey as a plaintiff suing independent wrestling promoter Ronnie Gossett for $5,000 in unpaid appearance fees. The episode even featured a cameo appearance by Pro wrestling legend Scott Steiner. Harvey ruled in favor of Fairplay.
Who Is Jonny Fairplay Dating?
The two-time Survivor contestant got engaged to medical assistant Jessica Kendrick in September 2023 at a hotel in front of a LED sign that read “Marry Me.”
They met when she offered him free Botox and dated for two years before he popped the question.
He has two daughters under the age of 18.
What Criminal Charge Did He Face?
Life hasn’t always been glamorous for Jonny. In 2020, he and his mother, Patsy Hall, were arrested for grand larceny in Virginia.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said they were accused of taking a silver necklace and furniture from a residence.
Fairplay released a statement to The Associated Press and said they would fight the charge.
I (we) have been unjustly charged by a family member. I welcome the opportunity to vindicate myself (and my mother).
The case was eventually dismissed, and the charges were dropped.