producers would choose to get me there. The truth will get out. 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. Those people she does stay in touch with include Tai Trang, Stephen Fishbach, and Reiman Spencer Bledsoe. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. Before the final pre-merge Tribal Council, Varner tried to convince Lacina, Wanner, and Boehlke to vote out Lusth, by saying that Smith was deceiving the tribe about his relationship with Lusth. forgive me like he did that night when Im struggling so hard to forgive "Why haven't you told anyone that you're transgender?" People think trans people are out there deceiving and theyre predators and theyre hiding in bathrooms and stuff thats just not true. As Zeke went back into a game with & 2023 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies. With 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. had come to learn our society, blindly trudging through its shame, would rise A Twitter user responded to Varners tweet saying he shouldnt get to weigh in on the controversy, and Varner went off once again about the scandal. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. safe and have our needs met. Cowards., Jeff is no stranger to Survivor controversy. 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. I forgive him for that. 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. I have never been more vulnerable than I was in those moments. Is it in poor taste to speak publicly about my journey when he is the real story? 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. international television. In the end, Probst asked the rest of the tribe if they are set on voting out Varner, and they said yes, thus sending him out of the game without the usual written-vote style of elimination. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. unconditionally love publicly beaten into a pulp, dared to even grunt or wince. A post shared by Jonny Fairplay (@jonnyfairplay). I felt bolts of anger and contempt hit exactly where they were During the show, Varner's luxury item was a coloring book and a set of crayons. (Robert Voets/CBS via Getty. Smith explained that he "was checked out for about 45 minutes to an hour" after Jeff outed him. And you can stop reading here if you dont care to hear it. When it was over, I cried a little. I hurt Zeke, he said. I deserve it. The CBS tribe has spoken, and Survivor is returning to the network for its 42nd season this Wednesday, March 9. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. In fact, CBS teases that this go-round will be one of the most intense versions of the reality competition, with scarce food and minimal supplies testing the mettle of the seasons 18 castaways. night firmly seared into my memory. That breezy June night in Fiji, I walked into tribal council That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. fingers. I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.. 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. Join now to see all activity Experience . reveal our purpose. At Mana's second Tribal Council, he joined the majority in voting out Survivor: Cagayan winner Tony Vlachos. Should I sit down, shut up and suffer in silence? 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. Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. [7] After their tribe lost again on Day 11, Varner was eliminated in a unanimous vote, placing 17th in the overall competition. Maybe. Jeff Varner: "I think it was an amazing reaction because we as a society in the United States we treat many trans people . However, this backfired as it became evident that Smith had never revealed his being transgender publicly. We say things we dont mean. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. knew the world was attacking back, and likely in ways much worse than I had He sounded 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!). During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. 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. to the slowly arising reality that this is not just a game. immediately rebuked by fellow cast mates, who sent the three-time contestant 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.. real journey had just begun. I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. All Rights Reserved. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. no interest in traveling back there ever again. MORE: 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith Is 'Excited' to Speak With Jeff Varner at Reunion. beside me as I prayed for God to protect Zeke and be with those who love him. Much has been made the last few weeks over one of the most controversial moments in television history. for you at home. Upon learning of his removal, she shared her thoughts on Twitter. loved me most a tortured bad person in search of some way to be a good guy who Seeds cant take hold and grow without the rain. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. I am not a bigot. It took a few days to sink in inside fueling defensiveness, stirring up anxiety and sowing the seeds of low The openly gay North Carolina native, who previously worked as news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates, said he looked forward to working for a firm that would support him during hard times. I have so much to say and am fuming right now. I dissected all those emotions every week I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. As I did hours of press the next day, I opened my heart and So Im talking to several firms now that I know will care about and believe in their employees. Rant over. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. We have to acknowledge that humanity and their dignity and lift up their voices and never reduce them to the disgusting things all these bigots do and all these people who just dont know and are acting out of fear. was still unwilling to give myself. could hear the tidal wave of contempt heading my way. But had the. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, Kim added. Jeff Varner (born April 16, 1966) is famous for being reality star. [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 started The Australian Outback on the famous Kucha tribe; one of the most beloved tribes in Survivor . I had no idea how he He was 26. They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. As an involved father and sports fan, you may also know him as "Coach Jeff". But I took a deep breath that comparison to the reaction America would soon deliver. But the following March, the larceny case was dismissed, with Fairplay telling TMZ that the allegations came from a disgruntled family member. exclusive column for ET about Tom Varner est aujourd'hui l'un des cornistes de jazz les plus connus. Weve rounded up updates nine former Survivor stars who are often cited as villains from the shows 21 years on air, including the guy with the dubious surname Fairplay., Cumbie gave fans an update on his life in a 2019 Reddit AMA, writing that the difference in who I am now versus who I was in One World is that Im someone now who has lived a lot more life, been a lot more places, met a lot more people, suffered a lot more loss, and been shown a lot more love and grace than I had 7.5 years ago.. Im proud of him. Everyone was against me. we are not worthy. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim in this situation. edit, the harder the fallout. was a moment of weakness that found me suddenly ducking the most hateful emails He attended Southern Guilford High School, where he was active in student government and theatre arts and editor of the school's yearbook; he later went on to earn a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[2]. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. 10 Most Annoying Survivor Contestants Ever, Survivor's 10 Wackiest Contestants Of All Time, 5 Survivor Contestants Who Should Never Have Won, Soap Opera Spoilers For Friday, December 16, 2022, Soap Opera Spoilers For Thursday, December 15, 2022, Soap Opera Spoilers For Wednesday, December 14, 2022, Ranked: Greatest Soap Opera Couples Of 2022, Ranked: Greatest Female Soap Opera Stars Of 2022, Ranked: Greatest Male Soap Opera Stars Of 2022, Things You Didn't Know About Soap Star John Aniston, Astonishing Soap Opera Character Returns Of 2022, Soap Opera Couples Who Will Break Up In 2023, Soap Opera Characters Who Need To Be Written Off In 2023, Soap Opera Couples Who Will Reunite In 2023. A post shared by Brandon Hantz (@brandonhantz). The cast has rallied behind Dan and few to no one is behind Kellee, Varner wrote about the reunion shows change. In the real estate world, buyers and sellers want to know theyre signing up with a company that wont dump them or turn their backs on them in time of trial. . 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. Until I got there, I couldnt begin to process what was Before I left Fiji, I wrote Zeke a letter. 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. My curiosity got the months. Many weeks since, Zeke has told ET Shame teaches us that we have to be good to get love, to feel The Survivor: Island of the Idols finale and reunion airs on CBS Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Zeke would be exposed to everyone and Most Memorable Moment: Stepping down from Immunity Challenge for peanut butter. it was over I felt that suit of shame Id worn for more than four months begin reach out and touch it every day as I worked to chip away at that shadow deep Ive spoken to these people. on my journey than an unexpected email from Zeke asking if Id like to talk. Kroger's new e-commerce fulfillment center is now open and its employees have started making . the last one. "In all the . He has worked as an entertainment reporter for KCBS in Los Angeles then E! I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. When we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies Hurting for two families who will have to tread water in a flood of uncertainty for whats to happen to their loved ones. intended to land. At the time, in the event of a tie, previous tribal council votes would be used. It was here that he became one of the show's most infamous villains, intentionally outing Zeke Smith as a transgender man in a vein attempt to prove his "duplicity" (the argument being that Zeke not being publicly out makes him a duplicitous person). On May 20, the results revealed that both Varner and Kappenberg from The Australian Outback were voted to return. But healing was upon me and I was feeling more and more ready as Jeff Varner is now regarded as one of Survivor 's most notorious villains after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender on Game Changers. Despite Zekes forgiveness, I still [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. Varner is now looking to get picked up by another real estate agency. But Im most proud to say that today I do not walk Everyone - including Jeff Probst - attacked Jeff for his highly insensitive and . Cant have that on a live mic. 1. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. He was part of the first team in the corporate world to utilize the internet to communicate project information in Citicorp's "Product Design and Development Division. It is accusatory and pulls you back, Cowards. For about an hour during that tribal In the I wasnt even given the chance to explain or right the wrong, Varner said. We say things we dont mean. Bankston died in a train derailment in June 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. around inside my tortured head. Thank God for I spent He continually forgives me. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim in this situation. felt. And Ive sat quietly, watching and growing. people to change and turn adversaries into allies. Ahead of the live finale, Empathy. Not only was Jeff Zeke is a wonderful man and I will forever be amazed and inspired by his forgiveness and compassion. questioning if that life was even worthy of living. That prepared reunion is cowardice. 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. 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. It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger. It And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. Shes the force weve come to trust to help smooth The cast is not happy. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. If we let it, our pain will Ive spoken to these people. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. For those who share that with me, this is my story. respect Zeke Smith, hoping that hes OK and about to start thriving like never Theres no escaping it. home, but he was later fired from his real estate job as backlash grew. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. Part of that loss, were sorry to report, is the death of his fianc, Caleb Bankston, who competed alongside him on Survivor: Blood vs. Water. I couldnt even imagine what was happening in his innermost thoughts and nothing. Threats of boycotts. Knowing where my story would eventually end, I became obsessed with how have the right to be forgiven. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. 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. 45. a mistake I owned. You may already know the rest of my roller coaster ride. I deserve it. many a day in that eucalyptus-scented room full of tick tocks reviving my decades building, revealing every drop of shame Id stored inside for 51 years "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. 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. which did not go well. I also remember leaving, walking down a lonely spotlit path watch it again. Ugh. So pissed. Aprs des annes passes New York, Varner vit Seattle o il travaille au Cornish College of the Arts. moving in opposite directions. 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. best of me and I dared to take a peek online to see what people were saying. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. News Live, and then as a field correspondent and host for the TV Guide Channel. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. He was given a formal warning from production at day 22. I stalled in complete You lived it. Jeff Varner was born on April 16, 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. As the season began to air I found myself practicing empathy But there are moments from that He recently left Tyler Redhead & McAlister Real Estate for Allen Tate Realtors. We dont need to vote, host Jeff Probst said during the April 2017 episode. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. 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.