“Survivor 48” Contestant Reveals Past Connection to Notorious Kidnapping Hoax

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Shauhin Davari, a 38-year-old debate professor and contestant on the upcoming season of “Survivor 48,” has revealed a surprising connection to Sherri Papini, the California woman who orchestrated a high-profile kidnapping hoax in 2016. Davari, who lives in Costa Mesa, was announced as one of the 18 contestants for the CBS reality show, set to premiere Feb. 26.

Davari’s past relationship with Papini, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for faking her own kidnapping, has drawn attention as he prepares to compete on the show. In a 2022 interview with Inside Edition, Davari described Papini as a “compulsive liar” and claimed he had suspected her kidnapping story was fabricated from the start.

Papini disappeared in November 2016 while allegedly jogging in Redding, Calif. She reappeared 22 days later, claiming she had been abducted by two masked Hispanic women. However, a years-long investigation revealed that Papini had orchestrated the hoax with the help of an ex-boyfriend, James Reyes. She was arrested in March 2022 and pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal agents and mail fraud.

Davari, who dated Papini when she was 20 and he was 15, said he was not surprised by the revelations. “She’s a compulsive liar,” he told Inside Edition. “She would not talk to you for three or four days, and then all of a sudden there’d be some fantastical story about what happened.” He also claimed Papini had fabricated stories about surfing and having a heart condition during their relationship.

Davari clarified that he was not the ex-boyfriend involved in the kidnapping hoax. Reyes, who helped Papini hide in Costa Mesa for three weeks, later told authorities she had asked him to hit her to make her injuries appear more convincing. When he refused, she bruised herself.

Papini’s case gained national attention and was recently explored in the 2024 Hulu documentary series “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini.” Her husband, Keith Papini, expressed shock and betrayal after learning the truth about her hoax.

As Davari prepares to compete on “Survivor 48,” he says his life experiences have prepared him for the challenges of the show. “Running a speech and debate team requires working with all different people,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “Motivating them toward a common goal, while working socially to put your team in position to succeed.”

Davari also shared that one of his pet peeves is being interrupted, joking, “I love the sound of my voice.” He cited his students, mother, and brother as his inspirations.

“Survivor 48” premieres Feb. 26 on CBS.