Survivor 45’s Dee Valladares and Austin Li Coon respond to dating questions

Dee Valladares And Austin Li Coon‘s relationship was the talk of the town Survivor 45 finale and the pair provide insight into where they are now.

“You’re not going to like my answer,” Dee, 26, countered Entertainment weekly on Thursday, December 21, when asked for an update on her and Austin’s relationship. “This has been a whirlwind of emotions and we have decided to keep it quiet for now. It’s been crazy and it’s going to be even crazier. So we decided to keep it quiet for now, just because it was crazy.”

Dee explained that keeping things “low-key” meant fans would most likely see photos of her and Austin, 26, “here and there,” but not read into them.

“We’re not going to focus on it right now because there’s so much going on in our lives,” she explained. “Yes, we’ll keep it quiet for now.”

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Austin, for his part, echoed similar sentiments in a separate interview with the exhaust.

“We want to keep that a little bit private for now, just because things have been so crazy,” he admitted Thursday. “The finale just aired and I don’t think I’m quite ready yet to deal with all the fans and give the answers. So I’ll keep that private for now.”

Early in the season, Austin and Dee teamed up early in the match and brought in allies Drew Basile And Julie Alley to form the Reba 4. The group was in control for most of the game and only turned on each other at the end. As the game progressed, the bond between Austin and Dee grew stronger and a showmance blossomed. While playing the game, the duo spent late nights talking and holding hands. Austin brought her and Katura Topps during a helicopter flight after winning a reward challenge.

While Austin had eyes for Dee on the island, her main focus was gaining the title of Sole Survivor. When the tribe wanted to vote out Julie, 49, Austin came to her to share what he had learned. Dee orchestrated a plan with Julie to play an idol that Austin gave Julie and blindside earlier in the season Emily Flip instead of. The move was successful and Dee lied to Austin about her involvement in the scheme.

The following week, Dee didn’t return the favor to Austin when Drew, 23, was the target of the week. Austin, who had no idea his friend was in danger, played an idol for himself and Drew was sent home. When Austin and Dee had a post-move powwow, the graduate student said he had no hard feelings about the move.

The pair eventually reached the last three alongside Jake O’Kane. Dee pleaded her case to the jury and defeated both men to take home the million dollar prize. Austin came in second in the 5-3-0 voting. When asked about the betrayal by the host Jeff ProbstAustin gave Dee her flowers.

“Girls are better at playing boys than the other way around!” he joked, sharing that he and Dee were “all good.”