David Genat will take over as host following his stint on Survivor: Australia V The World.

Australian Survivor’s David Genat / Jonathan LaPaglia.

Australian Survivor’s Jonathan LaPaglia has responded to news that David Genat will replace him as the show’s host. Photos: Channel 10

Australian Survivor‘s Jonathan LaPaglia has finally responded to the news that three-time contestant David Genat will replace him as the show’s host. It was revealed in June that JLP, who has hosted 11 seasons of the Channel 10 series, had been axed in an attempt to “shake things up” due to a dip in ratings.

Following plenty of speculation about who his replacement would be, the network announced on Tuesday night that David would be stepping into the role following his brief stint on Survivor: Australia V The World. JLP took to social media after the episode to share a clip of the moment he snuffed David’s torch and poked fun at his successor.

“Damn DAVID! If I’d known I could have just handed you the snuffer like an Olympic relay. Oh well. Good luck out there brother. Stay Gold Ponyboy!” he wrote. “Ps who knew my sign-off line for you was actually a message for me?”

The clip features JLP giving a rather ironic sign-off line to the remaining Aussie players, telling them: “Well, this tribe might be full of relationships, but shack up with the wrong people, you might just find yourself dumped.”

JLP’s post was quickly flooded with supportive messages from fans and former contestants, including David himself.

“I stand on the shoulders of giants, thank you for what you gave to this show. Nobody can do it like you J,” he commented.

JLP responded and sent his well wishes to David as he is currently filming next year’s season of the reality show in Samoa, titled Australian Survivor: Redemption.

“As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, it’s a tough gig. Wishing you the best!” he wrote.

The pair’s online exchange comes shortly after fans noticed that JLP appeared to take a brutal swipe at David in his social media post announcing his exit.

After thanking Survivor’s “immensely talented crew”, “crafty players”, and “loyal sassy audience”, JLP added at the end of his post: “PS. Whoever said a blindside is the most humane way to put someone down is an idiot. It hurts like a b***h!”

The remark might appear innocuous to most followers; however, longtime viewers would remember that David famously uttered that line during an episode of Champions V Contenders in 2019.

The international model was asked by JLP during Tribal Council what his motive was behind his vote, and he replied: “I mean, I think a blindside is the most human way to put someone down.”

Australian Survivor's original host Jonathan LaPaglia.

JLP has hosted Australian Survivor since 2016 when the series was rebooted on Channel 10. Photo: Channel 10

Janine Allis, who has played alongside her “great friend” David on two seasons of Australian Survivor and was also an advisor on his season of The Celebrity Apprentice, recently told Yahoo Lifestyle that she believes “change is good”.

“[JLP] has done a great job, but I’m also a firm believer that, you know, I think change is good too. So I think that he’s done a great job, and let’s see what the future holds with it,” she said.

“I think whoever they put in that position, they’ll do a great job. It’s like MasterChef. People went, ‘Oh my God, they’re getting rid of the [judges]’. The game is bigger than it. That’s my view, anyway, even though JLP did a great job.”