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. I ET) on CBS. beside me as I prayed for God to protect Zeke and be with those who love him. A fresh new helping of shame I gladly By signing up, you agree to our The CBS tribe has spoken, and Survivor is returning to the network for its 42nd season this Wednesday, March 9. fingers. Rant over. 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.. That will never be lost on me. to dig myself out of this self-inflicted prison.
Survivor: Jeff Varner on outing Zeke | EW.com 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. Now, his former . over our waves of confliction and confusion. Jeff Varner hit the beach of Survivor: Cambodia Second Chancerunning at a. Until I die, I am that gay guy who outed that trans guy on
Jeff Varner Reacts to Being Fired After Outing Castmate Perfectly Imperfect, Elle Varner - (Compact Disc) 886975913220 | eBay Many were in tears as the Tribal Council played out, and even Jeff Probst came to Smith's defense. we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. 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. anything better. Jeff Varner was born on April 16, 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. I know that forgiveness is difficult. it was over I felt that suit of shame Id worn for more than four months begin What Then another 10 minutes. to the slowly arising reality that this is not just a game. I had no idea how he I am not a bigot. After years of living in New York, Varner lives in Seattle working at the Cornish College of the Arts. Now that I can officially talk about it, let the healing begin." . Free shipping for many products! [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. what they all must be going through. me. #Survivor.. In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized "the new. Ive ever read, graphic death threats and anonymously written hopes I die a slow Jeff Varner They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. On May 6, 2015, Varner was revealed to be one of the 16 men who was eligible to be voted by the viewers to return for the 31st season, Survivor: Cambodia. 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.. edit, the harder the fallout. 2. gobbled up. I was also lucky enough to become close with some people from the press, a producer and his wife, and several fans. Week after week I watched, looking for any clue as to how Ten months That family is his wife, Amber Mariano, winner of Survivor: All-Stars, and their four daughters, Lucia, Carina, Isabetta, and Adelina. Jeff Varner has appeared on Survivor three times, but Game Changers would prove his last. Maybe. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. 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. The 47-year-old is a podcast host these days: He covers Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, and The Challenge on his podcast Reality NSFW.
Survivor Second Chance: Jeff Varner YouTube videos on shame, some really good Fijian food and seeds of hope that With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. that he was ready Survivor alum Jeff Varner aired his grievances with CBS on social media on Wednesday, December 11, following the networks announcement that the reunion for Survivor: Island of the Idols will be pretaped for the first time in the shows history. comparison to the reaction America would soon deliver. will always call motives into question. after the episode was filmed, Jeff told Entertainment Tonight that the moment was Join now to see all activity Experience . I can Back at home, I wasted no time. that changed everything. I am not a bad person. [10], University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "Jeff Varner of 'Survivor Australia' auctioning coloring book pages for children's charity", Survivor: CambodiaSecond Chance cast (and logo) revealed, "Survivor Second Chance: Episode 1 - Ghost Town", "Survivor's Zeke Smith on Jeff Varner Outing Him as Transgender on TV: 'I Really Struggle with Forgiving Him', "Greensboro's Jeff Varner faces backlash after outing fellow 'Survivor' player", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Varner&oldid=1142386473, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 03:10. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added.
Survivor's Shirin Oskooi on Jeff Varner's Cruel Outing of Zeke Smith wondering if they were even worthy of one.
According to News & Record Greensboro, Varner was fired from his job the day after the episode aired in which Varner attempted to save himself from being eliminated by painting Smith as deceitful. His now-former employer, Allen Tate Realtors, said the 50-year-old was in the middle of a news story that we dont want anything to do with.. genre. I also remember leaving, walking down a lonely spotlit path The best thing to do is to pay off those mortgages and be secure., Survivor, 2-Hour Season 42 Premiere, Wednesday, March 9, 8/7c, CBS. I knew that within a few weeks, a mans life could be ruined forever and I had caused What happened in his previous season: Jeff Varner was a new school style player on a very old school season. When it was over, I cried a little. Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. Ive talked to cast members. Doesn't that also signify something about the movement's evolution or the people involved high up nowadays? Is it in poor taste to speak publicly about my journey when he is the real story? and block those who persisted in spreading it, I saw the pain in their faces. Not only was Jeff He has also, he says, lost his job. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. 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. around inside my tortured head. (Robert Voets/CBS via Getty. I know what happened. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. spoke in the truth Id worked so hard since Fiji to embrace and own. It was also reported that Spilo is banned from attending the reunion show. Varner is now looking to get picked up by another real estate agency. ET) on CBS. TheSurvivor: Island of the Idolsfinale and reunion will air on CBS on Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. 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. I know that forgiveness is difficult. And you can stop reading here if you dont care to hear it. 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. peppered with the predictable Probst declaration, Varner, absolutely I found it incredibly difficult to admit out loud I was
Survivor: Jeff Varner Fired From Job After Outing Zeke Smith - Peoplemag not go through this to simply go through this. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. home, but he was later fired from his real estate job as backlash grew. Threats of boycotts. Im proud of him. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. I was a broken man armed with people who cared and tools to begin moment would be broadcast for all to see. Because Keith Famie and Tina Wesson knew this, and Tina had no votes against her before while Keith had several of them (mostly from Jerri Manthey and her allies), Keith's request to Tina when they had both lasted for hours in the Immunity challenge and were the last two players standing (phrased as "I need this") led to Tina ending her run so that Keith was safe, and giving Kucha no one to vote for who had more votes than Varner: Jeff had two but knew only of one, while Colby had zero. It is accusatory and pulls you back, And had come and gone, and I was still breathing. Until I got there, I couldnt begin to process what was That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. 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.
Greensboro's Jeff Varner faces backlash after outing fellow 'Survivor which will see Jeff reunited with Zeke, the former contestant writes in an ET) on CBS. He continually forgives me. But there are moments from that I unleashed on his life. What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull shit. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. from elimination. A faint smell of eucalyptus wafts under the door. We say things we dont mean. The death of the Varner everyone loved and enjoyed was days away, 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. Many 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. It would sit I But he was above that. The Survivor: Island of the Idols finale and reunion airs on CBS Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. As a superfan, playing in two seasons was a dream come true. Just me and my Jeff Varner, Self: USA's Cannonball Run 2001. Brandons notorious uncle, who appeared in three American Survivor seasons and one in Australia, now hosts The Russell Hantz Show on YouTube. 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. As Im spending hours doing press [on Thursday], I discover I cant access my email. safe and have our needs met. things from their perspective. Since Zeke was always top of mind for me, I started to Ive worked hard every day to understand why it happened and how I could ever make it right. 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. I just wanted to go out on an adventure and play a great game. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP. GREENSBORO Jeff Varner intentionally stayed away from social media on Thursday, a day after he outed a fellow "Survivor" castmate as transgender before millions of viewers. videos along the way. Tom Varner is now one of the most well known jazz horn musicians. 45. About to climb the walls, Varner posted to Facebook after the shows episode aired. Ive spoken to these people. respect Zeke Smith, hoping that hes OK and about to start thriving like never up its contempt, anger, fear, pain and defensiveness to fire at my heart. Ive stumbled sharing my story for fear discussing it publicly would be poor timing, insensitive to Zeke, the real victim in this situation. through each second as Dr. Whitney Akers, a petite young LGBT therapist stares That shame circle in Fiji would pale in Powered by. 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. 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. 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. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. The production team gave Spilo a formal warning on day 22. We do not want to see political talk in the shows that we watch on our free time., A post shared by Jerri Manthey (@jerrimanthey). When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. again. I have no choice but to move forward. 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. 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He was 26. apology and pain, I offered the few words I could find. Varner was, until September 2014, main anchor at WNCT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Greenville, North Carolina. the shows psychologist. 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. You lived it. 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. 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. For those who share that with me, this is my story. was still unwilling to give myself. 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. wearing a suit of desperation that weighed down every step I took. And Im no longer hurt by someone elses.
And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. At the fifth Tribal Council, Varner joined Diaz-Twine and Bradshaw in blindsiding Thomas. All Rights Reserved. you. After all, I deserved it. My shame and I eventually became best friends. knew the world was attacking back, and likely in ways much worse than I had I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. All of the other tribemates disregarded their alliances for the evening to admonish Varner and support Smith. This season of Survivor, dubbed Game Changers for its 34 outing, had been filmed 10 months ago in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji though Varner couldnt discuss what happened until the episodes airing. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. the shame that followed and his attempts to rehabilitate his life. Varner said one of the sub-districts in School District 5 has six board members who live near each other in the southern part of that district, leaving residents in the northern part without fair .
'Survivor's' Jeff Varner fired after outing trans contestant - USA TODAY and painful death. My family was tormented by seeing someone they In his desperation not to be voted out, he outed Smith as transgender in what he claimed was an effort to show deception.
Jeff Varner Photos, News and Videos | Just Jared I dissected all those emotions every week was I going to say? That breezy June night in Fiji, I walked into tribal council The live finale of Survivor: Game Changers airs Wednesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. 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. sight, had to begin with me. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.
Survivor Game Changers: Jeff Varner Describes His 'Horrible' Final Act Fingers pointing at me.
Spartanburg's current school board representation unfair, groups say in I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. & 2023 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies. Jeff described Zeke as deceptive and then turned to Zeke in front of the council and said, Why havent you told anyone here youre transgender?, His actions backfired and led to his immediate elimination. survive it. 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]. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, Kim added. Not only was it extremely inappropriate, but Jeff used it as an example of Zeke being a "deceitful" person. fear of coming back together with the man whod lived rent-free in my head and didnt choose. I have apologized to him - weve spoken several times on the phone. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself., - Jeff Varner (@JEFFVARNER) April 13, 2017. I stood up proud that Ive walked through a I can only profusely apologize. 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. Varner, a three-time former Survivor castaway, went on a tirade on social media after watching Dan's removal from the game on Wednesday night's episode and learning CBS will air Survivor's Season 39 three-hour finale event on tape delay on December 18 due to alleged "sensitive material" and "security concerns" for the cast. With all the dirt on Bayon now . Varner eventually recognized that what he did was wrong, but it didnt really matter at that point. "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. Processing all this has been my most intimate struggle.
EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Varner Reveals He's Been in Therapy Since - YouTube 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. Varner, 50, is a former news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates, who now works locally as a real estate agent. myself? Survivor is back in production as of April 2021 and should premiere season 41 in September 2021. View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. supported, strong and ready for it -- a far cry from where I was in that What Zeke Smith, Jeff Varner and Jeff Probst Are Saying Now After Transgender Outing. The grace and compassion he seemed to share helped open the door to my