Survivor Star Shauhin Davari Speaks on Ex Sherri Papini’s Hoax

Fiji, 10/18/2023 – Shauhin Davari, a contestant on the 48th season of “Survivor,” has spoken out about his complicated past with Sherri Papini, who gained national notoriety for faking her own kidnapping. The debate professor’s remarks come in the wake of Papini’s conviction for masterminding an elaborate hoax that held the state of California captivated for over three weeks in 2016.

Papini, 42, disappeared in November 2016, claiming she was abducted by two masked Hispanic women. However, a lengthy investigation revealed she was secretly staying with an ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, to collect money from the California Victim Compensation Board. In 2022, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to one count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements.

Davari, who dated Papini years prior to the incident, expressed his frustration over being mistakenly linked to Papini’s kidnapping story. “I want to stop people from thinking I am the guy who hid her or helped or had any contact with her,” he stated. He clarified that he was not the ex-boyfriend involved in her fraudulent scheme.

In an interview with Inside Edition, Davari described Papini as a “compulsive liar,” noting her tendency to weave fantastical stories. “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 recounted. He also shared that she frequently feigned interest in his hobbies, such as surfing, claiming she had a surfboard but lacking any photographic evidence.

Beyond her fabricated interests, Davari revealed instances where Papini purportedly invented serious medical conditions, including a heart ailment. “I was like, there’s no way. She’s fine. I promise you she’s fine. There’s just no chance that she got kidnapped,” he recalled.

Davari’s intention in speaking out was to disentangle himself from the embarrassment and stigma surrounding Papini’s deception. He has since made it a point to clarify his non-connection to the case.

As of now, E! News has reached out for comments from both Sherri Papini and CBS but has yet to receive a response.

For more updates on the cast of “Survivor” Season 48, stay tuned.