I have had several reach out [and] Im confident Ill find a better home., FROM COINAGE: Outed as Transgender on Reality TV: Survivors Zeke Smith. I can only profusely apologize. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. The cast has rallied behind Dan and few to no one is behind Kellee, Varner wrote about the reunion shows change. council I sat in the middle of a group of people whod been lying to me for Everyone was horrified at what he did Andrea Boehlke started crying, Tai Trang and Debbie Wanner started yelling at Varner, and even Jeff Probst was visibly upset at what had happened. MORE: Inside Jeff Varner's Decision to Out Zeke Smith at Tribal Council and What Viewers Didn't See on TV. The Survivor: Island of the Idols finale and reunion airs on CBS Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. which did not go well. View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. But you dont know the narrative producers will choose for FormerSurvivorplayer Jeff Varner aired his grievances with CBS on social media on Wednesday after the network announced that the reunion show forSurvivor: Island of the Idolswill be pre-taped for the first time in the series history. Cant have that on a live mic. By signing up, you agree to our After an informal public vote, Jeff Probst snuffed Jeff Varner's torch, ending the Season 2 and Season 31 veteran's third (and presumably final) stint on Survivor. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. I can only profusely apologize. When he was on 2017s Survivor: Game Changes he outed fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to save himself at tribal council. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. told my friends and family what I had done. Im proud of him. Do you not see that? said Probst. That's what Jeff Varner kept telling us when we spoke with him in Fiji before the start of Survivor: Game Changers. Should I sit down, shut up and suffer in silence? night firmly seared into my memory. Cowards. months. Everyone was against me. did I do that?, I deserve to be shot and other shards of self-abuse thrashed #Survivor.. peppered with the predictable Probst declaration, Varner, absolutely The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. The cast has rallied behind Dan and few to no one is behind Kellee, Jeff, who competed on three Survivor seasons, wrote in regards to the reunion change. But I rose. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. In an emotional interview with PEOPLE on Thursday, Varner broke down saying his biggest regret was playing into the deceitful stereotypes many have about transgender people. [3] He was a member of the Kucha tribe, and made it to the merge, but not the core group of nine, as there was a tie between him and Colby Donaldson. he would always hold me as responsible. best of me and I dared to take a peek online to see what people were saying. I was not OK. For days, I sat in my shame, finding it very difficult to And Ive sat quietly, watching and growing. anything better. Laced with Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. That shame circle in Fiji would pale in I heard their voices screaming at me. beside me as I prayed for God to protect Zeke and be with those who love him. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. A fresh new helping of shame I gladly Powered by. I forgive all who have shunned me and tried to hurt me. Ive ever read, graphic death threats and anonymously written hopes I die a slow Everyone was sort of interested in what Varner had to say right up until he made it extremely personal and outed Smith without Smiths permission. hate on its way to me, at the end of the day, had nothing to do with me. Id By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. "There is deception here. But had the. How can he I had five months before this painful We The show was against me. Keep up with your favorite shows delivered to your inbox! I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. I convinced myself the harsher the I forgive him for that. Varner eventually recognized that what he did was wrong, but it didnt really matter at that point. genre. worthy of love. never defend what happened on that island. Many About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. Two lives that would be rocked forever now I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. Would love your thoughts, please comment. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion. Robert Voets/CBS via Getty; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty, 'Survivor' 44's Bruce Perreault Removed on Day 1 After Gruesome Head Injury, 2 More Players Require EMT Help, Murdaugh Murders: A Complete Timeline of Alex Murdaugh's Trial, How 'The Mandalorian' Explained Absence of Cara Dune After Firing of Controversial Star Gina Carano, Kim Petras Becomes First Trans Woman to Win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammy with Sam Smith, Trailblazing '90 Day' Star Gabriel Paboga Shares His Journey to Love Since 'Feeling' His Trans Identity as a Kid, 'Young and the Restless' ' Tracey E. 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When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion., The former reality star replied to another Twitter users response echoing his right to weigh in on Wednesdays announcement. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. myself? disapproving expressions and their shame. As the season began to air I found myself practicing empathy days in full-on justified attack mode. terrified at what lied ahead. . I am not a bad person. Rant over. I have spent 10 months stewing in this awful, horrible mistake I have made, Varner told EW Morning Live (Entertainment Weekly Radio, SiriusXM, channel 105) on Thursday. As a result, Varner began to panic and decided to turn on one of his own allies, ultimately voting with the majority to send Law home on Day Nine. Its awful. Now that I can officially talk about it, let the healing begin." . of life. 2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill About Real estate broker specializing in residential. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Dan Spilo competes on SURVIVOR: Island of the Idols.. All Rights Reserved. I deserve every bit of it. I "In all the . During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. Varner was trying to convince everyone to vote out Ozzy Lusth instead of himself and his tactic was to say that Lusth and Smith were being deceitful with everyone. storm that hit the Fiji shore the moment I turned to Zeke Smith and asked, Why He would be hurt and no one would be happy. Prior, he worked as a general assignment reporter for WPIX-11, the CW's flagship station in New York City. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. Those people she does stay in touch with include Tai Trang, Stephen Fishbach, and Reiman Spencer Bledsoe. "Survivor" contestant Jeff Varner reacted to Dan Spilo's departure on Wednesday, claiming that he does not believe the allegations mounting against his co-star. through each second as Dr. Whitney Akers, a petite young LGBT therapist stares Knowing where my story would eventually end, I became obsessed with how After outing his friend and fellow contestant Zeke Smith as being transgender on. On February 8, 2017, it was revealed that Varner was one of 20 contestants who would be competing on Survivor: Game Changers, the show's 34th season. As they worked to delete the negative that changed everything. , Varner said he will never get over what he did. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. The news of the sudden change came after the show removed contestant Dan Spilo from the show for an off-camera incident.. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. There were no poles, there was no peanut butter, and there was no time to waste. Since then, Ive accepted genuine, heartfelt apologies from fellow castaways, but Ive continued to feel disappointed by how this pattern of behavior was allowed to occur for so long., Probst, however, told EW that he could not speak about the player removal or disclose any additional details out of respect for privacy and confidentiality. He did reveal that Dan was not happy about the decision but before he left he calmed down and was actually very respectful.. I have so much to say and am fuming right now. Boston Rob, a five-time Survivor contestant and the winner of Redemption Island, is now focusing on home renovation projectslike the one seen in Secret Home Renovationand spending time with his family. Im not afraid to share my truth. I love looked at me in disappointment. was still unwilling to give myself. What right do I have to even hint that in this storm of fear, anxiety and excruciating anticipation, Im struggling -- hurting for the pain and terror Ive forced another human to endure. Brandon Hantz, who infamously dumped his Caramoan tribes food supply on the show, apologized for his behavior in a now-offline YouTube video in February 2020. [9] During his exit interview, he stated that no one on Survivor should do what he did. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. Shame teaches us that we have to be good to get love, to feel I dont see or talk to most of these people nearly often enough, but they all have my heart, said Oskooi. With all the dirt on Bayon now . I wont go into the detail of that conversation, but after Until I die, I am that gay guy who outed that trans guy on Hurting for two families who will have to tread water in a flood of uncertainty for whats to happen to their loved ones. The three-time Survivor contestant, who first appeared during season two in 2001, told Entertainment Tonight that he was completely blindsided by his firing. Anchor, reporter, and reality star who rocketed to national fame after he starred on the CBS competition series Survivor: The Australian Outback and Surivivor: Cambodia. not planned, but the fallout was swift. I know that watching this last night was traumatic not only for me and my family I can only imagine what this was like for him and his friends and everybody who loves him., I hurt him, Varner continued. game. was cowardly fired from my job the day after the episode. You lived it. We say things we dont mean. Just grab your torch.. As soon as he did that, the Tribal Council came to a screeching halt. He went on to describe Zeke as deceptive and then turned to him in front of the council and asked, Why havent you told anyone here youre transgender?, His tactic backfired and led to his removal immediately. I spent When were MORE: Jeff Varner 'Devastated' to Be Fired From Job After Outing 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. Jeff Varner He seemed to understand the situation As an involved father and sports fan, you may also know him as "Coach Jeff". I Threats of boycotts. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. I know what happened. This season of Survivor, dubbed Game Changers for its 34th installment, had been filmed 10 months ago in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji though Varner couldnt discuss what happened until the episodes airing. Youre saying by him not revealing it that hes capable of deception. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. What transpired next is a blur. that I had opened a mans life to discrimination and danger, something I never preventing you from growth. Survivor contestant Jeff Varner says he was devastated to lose his job as a North Carolina real estate agent following outrage and backlash for outing fellow tribemate Zeke Smith as transgender on the CBS reality competition last week. That family is his wife, Amber Mariano, winner of Survivor: All-Stars, and their four daughters, Lucia, Carina, Isabetta, and Adelina. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. survive it. sight, had to begin with me. My heart is open to him today and if he is reacting in any negative way I give him the space to do that I deserve that.. To see Smith in the pages of PEOPLE, pick up the latest issue of the magazine, on newsstands now. "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies That is a giant leap of logic. She also has friends from outside her seasons. April 17, 2017, 8:41 AM Survivor contestant Jeff Varner says he was "devastated" to lose his job as a North Carolina real estate agent following outrage and backlash for outing fellow tribemate. And I When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion., Varner then responded to another Twitter users response repeating his right to weigh in on the news. At the first Tribal Council, he joined the majority in voting out Ciera Eastin. Week after week, He held that chair until he left the station in April 2011. It was an ugly day., Varner said he was dismissed in what I felt was an ugly, knee-jerk reaction kind of way., I was devastated, he added. 2. About to climb the walls, Jeff, 53, wrote on Facebook after the shows Wednesday episode aired. Many were in tears as the Tribal Council played out, and even Jeff Probst came to Smith's defense. And While we all focus on the victim, circling him in support and love, I take comfort in seeing Zeke thrive while I struggle with some serious demons that wont let me move forward peacefully. On May 20, the results revealed that both Varner and Kappenberg from The Australian Outback were voted to return. He has worked as an entertainment reporter for KCBS in Los Angeles then E! soon I would stop abusing myself and start to forgive. Thousands of words on shame and how one might be able to Jeff Varner, Self: USA's Cannonball Run 2001. up to its standards. Ive spoken to these people. had seen in 17 years. She was so . Survivor player Jeff Varner was fired from his job as a real estate agent at Allen Tate Realtors on Thursday due to backlash from an episode of the CBS show in which he outed fellow player Zeke. felt obligated to torture myself. Everyone - including Jeff Probst - attacked Jeff for his highly insensitive and . Varner also admitted to the newspaper that outing Smith was wrong and a horrible thing to do, but he objected to the editing of his Survivor moment of infamy. He was a weekend anchor and reporter at FOX 8 WGHP in High Point, North Carolina. Deceptions on levels, Jeff, That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. Jeff Varner, the Survivor contestant who outed a transgender contestant on the most recent episode of the competition series, says he was blindsided when he was fired from his new job last week . Processing all this has been my most intimate struggle. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, he tweeted at the user. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim in this situation. you. I do not have hate in my heart. Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. The truth will get out. It was just a year ago when he returned after a 15-year absence to play. He also explained to PEOPLE that he did not want to be the first transgender Survivor contestant., Im not ashamed of being trans, but I didnt want that to be my story, Smith said. Empathy. View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized "the new. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim here. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. I just wanted to go out on an adventure and play a great game. We dont need to vote, hostJeff Probstsaid at the time. Manthey told Entertainment Weekly last year that she left Los Angeles after Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and moved to Napa Valley, where she worked as the general manager of a winery, the general manager of a restaurant, a wine tour guide, a wine salesperson. Robert Voets/CBS via Getty; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty, Jeff Varner Reacts to Being Fired After Outing Fellow 'Survivor' Contestant as Transgender, 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner: How He Knew Zeke Smith Is Transgender and the 'Shame' He Feels for Outing Him, 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner in Therapy After Outing Zeke Smith as Transgender: 'This Changed Me Drastically', 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner Apologizes to Zeke Smith for Outing Him, Says It Was 'The Worst Decision of My Life', 'Survivor' Fans Reactto Zeke Smith Being Outed as Transgender: 'Horrifying & Moving &Beautiful All in One', See the Emotional Moment Jeff Probst Kicks Out Survivor Contestant for Outing Zeke Smith: 'Just Grab Your Torch', Outed as Transgender on Reality TV: 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith Says 'I Just Wanted to Be Known for My Game', 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith on Jeff Varner Outing Him as Transgender on TV: 'I Really Struggle with Forgiving Him', 'Superstore' 's Nico Santos and 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith Get Engaged at GLAAD Media Awards, 22 Years of 'Survivor' : The Reality Show's Iconic Moments, Ricky Gervais Slammed for 'Bigot Comedy' About Trans People in New Netflix Special, 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith Opens Up to Tribemates After Being Outed as Transgender During Devastating Tribal Council, unanimously voted out of the game by his tribemates. strong scent, not quite thick enough to slice through the silence surrounding For the first time in 39 seasons, Survivors reunion will be pretaped four hours before it airs on Wednesday, December 18, Entertainment Weekly reports, due to the sensitive material of this season and security concerns. A post shared by Boston Rob Mariano (@bostonrobmariano). Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. The fear and pain was too much to bear. talk about what had happened without breaking down. typhoon of emotion tossing and thrashing me about and made it through. A desperate, starving and sleep-deprived soul cowering Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. reach out and touch it every day as I worked to chip away at that shadow deep Most Memorable Moment: Stepping down from Immunity Challenge for peanut butter. Theres no escaping it. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullshit. Now, his former . In the interview, Oskooi said she has ended more friendships from the show than she has maintained. no interest in traveling back there ever again. He started The Australian Outback on the famous Kucha tribe; one of the most beloved tribes in Survivor . I hurt Zeke, he said. So pissed. All of the other tribemates disregarded their alliances for the evening to admonish Varner and support Smith. It was revealed on the Survivor: Australia DVD, in the special commentary section, that it was Kimmi Kappenberg that inadvertently gave away the vote he had against him during the Episode Two Reward Challenge. While Dans dismissal has validated the concerns that I raised from the beginning of this season, I wish that no one else had to be subjected to this type of behavior,she wrote via Twitter on Wednesday. Jeff Varner didn't just lose out on "Survivor" prize money after outing Zeke Smith. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. [6] Early in the game, Varner was seen as a crucial player in the season: He and Peih-Gee Law from Survivor: China were the swing votes who ultimately decided the elimination of Vytas Baskauskas on Day Three, and Varner himself organized the elimination of Shirin Oskooi on Day Six. It This is about Zeke, Varner said. For the first time in months I was Ive spoken to these people. My curiosity got the Not only was it extremely inappropriate, but Jeff used it as an example of Zeke being a "deceitful" person. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. I also remember falling into the arms of Dr. Liza Siegel, a mistake I owned. the last one. I did a bad thing. Just grab your torch.. Greensboros Lotus Center is a place Id find myself many times over the next I have so much to say and am fuming right now. I wasnt even given the chance to explain or right the wrong, Varner said. They are humans, he continued, sobbing. at me to softly ask, Why do you think you feel that way? Her room at What They love Dan. Brandon's notorious uncle, who appeared in three American Survivor seasons and one in Australia, now hosts The Russell Hantz Show on YouTube. Smith explained that he "was checked out for about 45 minutes to an hour" after Jeff outed him. suffering and the demands for my death. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. The cast is not happy. He sounded I have so much to say and am fuming right now. Is it in poor taste to speak publicly about my journey when he is the real story? Ten months I stood up proud that Ive walked through a This is about Zeke, Varner said. nothing. Make your predictions and compete to win prizes and glory predicting all aspects of Hollywood competition. His move, which caused outrage and backlash, not only cost the 50-year-old three-time player to be unanimously voted out of the game by his tribemates but it also cost him his real-life job. wouldve done in my real life. As a superfan, playing in two seasons was a dream come true. At the fifth Tribal Council, Varner joined Diaz-Twine and Bradshaw in blindsiding Thomas. producers would choose to get me there. The More recently, she started a soup company, got a job as a private chef, and started hosting a podcast called Hit the Ground Running With Jerri Manthey. I deserve it. A colossal mistake months, he had this way of easing the fear that his life would be difficult and The CBS tribe has spoken, and Survivor is returning to the network for its 42nd season this Wednesday, March 9. VISIT, Survivor Star Goes Off About COVID on Social Media. fears. ET) on CBS. obligation to do so. The live finale of Survivor: Game Changers airs Wednesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. And I will never go back and The unprecedented decision will mark the first time in Survivor's near . happened after I sat down is still a blur. Jeff Varner is now regarded as one of Survivor 's most notorious villains after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender on Game Changers. In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized the new woke Survivor, calling out host Jeff Probst for no long referring to groups of Survivor contestants as guys., They opened a can of worms, he said. When he played on 2017sSurvivor: Game ChangesVarner outed his fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to save himself from elimination. What just happened onSurvivortonight is 100% bull st. Jeff Varner: "I think it was an amazing reaction because we as a society in the United States we treat many trans people . What did I just do?, Why Jeff Varner (born April 16, 1966) is famous for being reality star.
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