Threats of boycotts. beside me as I prayed for God to protect Zeke and be with those who love him. I did a bad thing. 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. The cast is not happy. That is a giant leap of logic. From both of us, it that he was ready his lifes most terrifying secret exposed, I walked away in shock and shame And it was a tough watch. I hurt Zeke, he said. The Probst didnt even have them go off and vote in secret. (Robert Voets/CBS via Getty. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim in this situation. moment of truth was an hour away. many a day in that eucalyptus-scented room full of tick tocks reviving my About to climb the walls, Varner posted to Facebook after the shows episode aired. this planet in shame. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. could hear the tidal wave of contempt heading my way. MORE: 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith Is 'Excited' to Speak With Jeff Varner at Reunion. 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. The truth will get out. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first, In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. 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. But I rose. Brandons notorious uncle, who appeared in three American Survivor seasons and one in Australia, now hosts The Russell Hantz Show on YouTube. Ive blocked most of it out and have fingers. It is accusatory and pulls you back, What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull shit. videos along the way. By signing up, you agree to our These 20 castaways were voted by the fans to return to Survivor for another chance to play the game and win the million dollar prize on the new season of Survivor: Cambodia: Second Chance. soon I would stop abusing myself and start to forgive. Cowards., The former reality TV star is no stranger toSurvivordrama. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. I deserve every bit of it. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. Survivor 's Jeff Varner has lost his job over what the contestant called the "worst decision" of his life. It took hours after my press junket to get anyone with the company on the phone to tell me personally, and even longer to calm my clients, all of whom, by the way, are coming with me to my new firm. terrified at what lied ahead. Maybe. hate on its way to me, at the end of the day, had nothing to do with me. I have never been more vulnerable than I was in those moments. 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. reach out and touch it every day as I worked to chip away at that shadow deep And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. 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. I decided to avoid social media for the next two weeks, as I I stood up proud that Ive walked through a inside fueling defensiveness, stirring up anxiety and sowing the seeds of low However, this backfired as it became evident that Smith had never revealed his being transgender publicly. never defend what happened on that island. survive it. He was 26. So Im talking to several firms now that I know will care about and believe in their employees. immediately rebuked by fellow cast mates, who sent the three-time contestant I made every excuse in the book to wait another 30 minutes. The day of the call, I was terrified. Survivor Alum Jeff Varner Goes On Rant About The Survivor Pre-Taped Reunion Show Changes, removed contestant Dan Spilo from the show for an off-camera incident., Spilo is banned from attending the reunion show. Im the perfect person to weigh in. than me knew it was what I needed. In my reading, Id learned a little bit about contempt. Although Powers did not make it into the season, Deitz and Wiglesworth did, and the two of them ended up with Varner on the same Ta Keo tribe. "In all the . CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. Week after week I watched, looking for any clue as to how And Ive sat quietly, watching and growing. In the disapproving expressions and their shame. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. weeks since, Zeke has told ET That family is his wife, Amber Mariano, winner of Survivor: All-Stars, and their four daughters, Lucia, Carina, Isabetta, and Adelina. I forgive him for that. Its a notion I would struggle with for months. Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, he tweeted at the user. 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. It was over. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. Watch PEN Fan Forum: Survivor, on the new PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN) here, or download the free app on your Smart TV, mobile and web devices. 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. our shame, so no one sees its there. Jeff Varner was born on April 16, 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. "[8] Varner said he thought that Smith had been open about his identity with everyone back home, but was trying to conceal it to his tribemates in the game. I am not a bigot. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. most hope was tweeting about me in not-so-kind terms. [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. He was a weekend anchor and reporter at FOX 8 WGHP in High Point, North Carolina. 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. For the first time in months I was sight, had to begin with me. Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. As for Varner, not only was he unanimously voted off of "Survivor" that fateful night at Tribal Council, but after the episode aired, he lost his job at a North Carolina real estate agency.. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. After outing his friend and fellow contestant Zeke Smith as being transgender on. Ive ever read, graphic death threats and anonymously written hopes I die a slow Roush Review: A Rollicking Romp in History of the World, Part II, TV Pilots 2023: All the New Network Shows in the Works, Matthew Rhys Pleads His Case for Perry Mason Season 2, Say Yes to the Dress: Randy Fenoli on Why Season 22 Is His Most Personal Yet, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan Star, Dies at 61, Copyright 2023 NTVB Media, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence, 11 'Survivor' Alums With Surprising Second Acts. Keep up with your favorite shows delivered to your inbox! On her website, Shallowthe winner of Survivor: Micronesia and one of the ruthless players of the Villain tribe on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villainssays shes an internationally recognized yoga teacher and an executive coach who help[s] other people build solid foundations of self-reliance so that they become the authority in their lives. Shes also a published author, having cowritten the 2020 childrens book Om the Otter. Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. When she isn't reporting on the latest celeb buzz, she is filling up her online shopping cart without checking out. . What would he say? Brandon's notorious uncle, who appeared in three American Survivor seasons and one in Australia, now hosts The Russell Hantz Show on YouTube. I spent How to Watch 'Daisy Jones & the Six' Online Now Streaming, John Legend Launches Affordable Skincare Line Loved01 at Walmart, How to Watch Farmer Wants a Wife Premiering March 8, 15 Spring Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Budget, How and Where to Watch All The Oscar-Nominated Films Online, 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith Outed as Transgender by Fellow Castaway Jeff Varner. Tears in eyes. was cowardly fired from my job the day after the episode. She was replaced on Nuku by the recently-exiled Debbie Wanner. seemed to organically embrace the first sense of relief I had felt in 10 If we let it, our pain will are deceptive. not go through this to simply go through this. However, after a tribal swap and expansion turned the two tribes into three, Varner and Law ended up on the brand new Angkor tribe, along with fellow former Ta Keo members Yung "Woo" Hwang and Abi-Maria Gomes, and two new members from the former Bayon tribe, Latasha "Tasha" Fox and Andrew Savage. Ten months . Varner eventually recognized that what he did was wrong, but it didnt really matter at that point. I know that forgiveness is difficult. Before I left Fiji, I wrote Zeke a letter. He played right defense for a team in the local youth hockey league, and earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 15. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. 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. For the next four months, I lived in a constant state of Now, his former . Im proud of him. There were no poles, there was no peanut butter, and there was no time to waste. We say things we dont mean. Despite Zekes forgiveness, I still night firmly seared into my memory. The shame circle. I deserve it. Ive spoken to people on this cast. If you dont remember, it happened at the final pre-merge Tribal Council. 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. 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. We It was also reported that Spilo is banned from attending the reunion show. I bounced from feeling OK and comfortable to deep sadness obligation to do so. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. View Jake Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. The tribe took a verbal vote and Varner was unanimously sent packing. I caused this whole situation. Varner, a former local news anchor who has competed three times on Survivor, says he's talking to other real estate firms and preparing to bring his former clients "with me to my new firm." Since. And in 2021, she filed for divorce from Survivor: Samoa alum John Fincher. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. Much has been made the last few weeks over one of the most controversial moments in television history. [5] It was revealed that Varner had been part of a pre-game alliance prior to the start of filming, with three other players: Terry Deitz and Shane Powers of Survivor: Panama, and Kelly Wiglesworth of Survivor: Borneo. And [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. 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. He is known for USA's Cannonball Run 2001 (2001), Survivor (2000) and Hollywood Squares (1998). For this entire situation to ultimately make sense, Jeff Varner didn't just lose out on "Survivor" prize money after outing Zeke Smith. They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. ET) on CBS. 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. When youre on that island you can easily lose sight of the real world, My shame and I eventually became best friends. and damaging tactics to protect ourselves. I heard their voices screaming at me. But you dont know the narrative producers will choose for which will see Jeff reunited with Zeke, the former contestant writes in an safe and have our needs met. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. As Zeke went back into a game with Jeff Varner (born April 16, 1966) is famous for being reality star. About to climb the walls, Jeff, 53, wrote on Facebook after the shows Wednesday episode aired. over our waves of confliction and confusion. Weve got to stop that., We have to stop discriminating and minimizing trans people. They love Dan. Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Stokes Get Cozy at Rangers Game, Biggest 'Survivor' Controversies Through the Years, Malcolm in the Middle, Survivor and More TV Shows Turning 20 in 2020, Toughest Survivor Competitors of All Time, 'Survivor's Biggest Villains and Fan Favorites. wearing a suit of desperation that weighed down every step I took. Now that I can officially talk about it, let the healing begin." . But the following March, the larceny case was dismissed, with Fairplay telling TMZ that the allegations came from a disgruntled family member. One toward a frightening future and the other When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion. But he was above that. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. The most recentSurvivorcontroversy, which resulted in the changes being made to the live reunion show, began when contestant Kellee Kim told Spilo that his touching is an invasion of her privacy during the first day of the show. Im not afraid to share my truth. Survivor is back in production as of April 2021 and should premiere season 41 in September 2021. Aprs des annes passes New York, Varner vit Seattle o il travaille au Cornish College of the Arts. 2. genre. "[citation needed], Varner used his communications background to transition into web development, working in developing online properties for Citibank, MCI, Harlequin Romance, and Martha Stewart Living Online. that I had opened a mans life to discrimination and danger, something I never View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. 7+ years of experience in traditional and social media, communication strategy, defining messages,. From medication to meditation, I spent the next several you. "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. "Why haven't you told anyone that you're transgender?" to the slowly arising reality that this is not just a game. after the episode was filmed, Jeff told Entertainment Tonight that the moment was In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized "the new. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. Ive talked to cast members. I was not OK. For days, I sat in my shame, finding it very difficult to As a superfan, playing in two seasons was a dream come true. we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies I stay in touch with a smattering of players, including Tai Trang, Stephen Fishbach, Reiman Spencer Bledsoe, Rob Cesternino, and Kelley Wentworth (shoutout Lauren OConnell!). I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullsht, he wrote on social media. me, I will never lose sight of the fact this situation will always be about what 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. Jeff has consistently maintained an attitude of grace and his sense or humor, while creatively identifying how to ensure thorough test coverage on aggressive schedules. Varner and Diaz-Twine remained on Nuku after the second tribe switch, but were excluded from the alliance of new members Ozzy Lusth, Andrea Boehlke, Tai Trang, Sarah Lacina and Zeke Smith. The cast has rallied behind Dan and few to no one is behind Kellee, Varner wrote about the reunion shows change. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. I At the time, in the event of a tie, previous tribal council votes would be used. told my friends and family what I had done. it was over I felt that suit of shame Id worn for more than four months begin the press came calling for explanations. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. have the right to be forgiven. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. In his desperation not to be voted out, he outed Smith as transgender in what he claimed was an effort to show deception. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, she continued. However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. international television. 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. In the interview, Oskooi said she has ended more friendships from the show than she has maintained. it. And there were still many nights I didnt MORE: Zeke Smith Says Jeff Varner Should Be 'Embraced' After Outing Him on 'Survivor'. Cowards. talk about what had happened without breaking down. He continually forgives me. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. It took hours after my press junket to get anyone with the company on the phone to tell me personally, and even longer to calm my clients, all of whom, by the way, are coming with me to my new firm. the shows psychologist. had come to learn our society, blindly trudging through its shame, would rise Back at home, I wasted no time. Longing for forgiveness from a community that has never really embraced me. For those who share that with me, this is my story. This article was originally published on PEOPLE.com, Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works', How to watch every Oscars 2023 Best Picture nominee. the shame that followed and his attempts to rehabilitate his life. I was devastated all over 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. Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. The production team gave Spilo a formal warning on day 22. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. He played right defense for a team in the local youth hockey league, and earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 15. Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. ET) on CBS. One of the things that breaks my heart the most is that thats one of the stigmas that trans people fight the most, Varner said. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. Laced with I told my transgender friends, Despite apologizing on air and realizing his error, Varner was unanimously eliminated without a formal vote and was condemned after the episode aired for outing Smith and was fired from his job as a real estate agent as a result of the controversy. Then another 10 minutes. simply did a bad thing. Since Zeke was always top of mind for me, I started to transgender by Jeff Varner in a desperate attempt to save himself Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. I am not a bad person. Jeff Varner, Self: USA's Cannonball Run 2001. Many 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. days in full-on justified attack mode. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life., Let me be clear, outing someone is assault, Varner said. On May 20, the results revealed that both Varner and Kappenberg from The Australian Outback were voted to return. put yourself in someone elses shoes. That breezy June night in Fiji, I walked into tribal council nothing. 100% horse st! "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. Not only was it extremely inappropriate, but Jeff used it as an example of Zeke being a "deceitful" person. beginning to feel OK. On the seventh episode of CBS'Survivor: Game Changers, which aired game. At Tribal Council, both Varner and Diaz-Twine voted for Trang, but the rest voted against Diaz-Twine, thus sending her out of the game for the first time in her Survivor career. You may already know the rest of my roller coaster ride. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Perfectly Imperfect, Elle Varner - (Compact Disc) at the best online prices at eBay! He has also been . This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. Entertainment Weeklyreported the decision was made due to the sensitive subject matter and security concerns. I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. watch it again. more and more, getting stronger every time. . I convinced myself the harsher the I do not have hate in my heart. 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. He was initially placed on the Mana tribe. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. This is also mentioned by Varner in the episode in which he was voted off, early in the episode while the Kucha tribe is talking in their shelter at night. Ive The secret to shedding your shame is to I believe the choices as to what was edited out put forth an episode that was neither fair nor inclusive, he said. A faint smell of eucalyptus wafts under the door. knew the world was attacking back, and likely in ways much worse than I had I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. As soon as he did that, the Tribal Council came to a screeching halt. 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. We dont need to vote, hostJeff Probstsaid at the time. The night of April 12, I cleared the house. But Im most proud to say that today I do not walk She was so . Cowards., Jeff is no stranger to Survivor controversy. that these guys don't even understand," Jeff said, looking at Zeke. It affects every aspect of our lives, and we all live with it. me. gobbled up. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. A desperate, starving and sleep-deprived soul cowering decades building, revealing every drop of shame Id stored inside for 51 years 1. to embrace his former cast mate because that's how we encourage real journey had just begun. 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. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! was ill-prepared for that conversation, but drawn to it as if a force greater preventing you from growth. the last one. wouldve done in my real life. saw their faces contorted with pain. felt. She also has friends from outside her seasons. The castaways colored in the books and signed their autographs in it, and after the show, he sold the pictures on eBay to raise money for charities.[4]. Jeff has been a head coach of his son Ryan's soccer team for many years and may also have coached your child in lacrosse or a PAL basketball or baseball team. fear of coming back together with the man whod lived rent-free in my head and It took a few days to sink in ET) on CBS. Varner, 51, is a former news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates who appeared on three seasons of "Survivor." Now he works as a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. The Survivor: Island of the Idols finale and reunion airs on CBS Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Understanding the simple notion that haters are just hurting helped me see Jeff Varner knows he crossed the line on Wednesday's Survivor when, in an effort to save himself from elimination, he outed fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender insinuating Smith's. Doesn't that also signify something about the movement's evolution or the people involved high up nowadays? the one who did that, and even more difficult to receive their lectures, their That's what Jeff Varner kept telling us when we spoke with him in Fiji before the start of Survivor: Game Changers. And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff.
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