"In all the . I have no choice but to move forward. In this and other calls wed have over the Zeke Varner talks to Zeke, Tribal Council S34E06 (2 of 4) Survivor: Game Changers, Jeff Varner outs Zeke, 'Survivor' castoff Shirin Oskooi lets loose on 'condescending' Terry, 'psycopath' Abi-Maria, Subscribe to Gold Derby's YouTube Channel youtube.com/subscribe_widget?p=GoldDerby GoldDerby.com offers celebrity interviews and expert predictions to track who's ahead to win the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, "American Idol," "The Voice," "Survivor," "Amazing Race," "Dancing with the Stars" and more. to dig myself out of this self-inflicted prison. What I saw on television in that specific episode was not the true experience I lived., Vlachos was still a police officer in New Jersey, at last report, though he told Entertainment Tonight in May 2020after his Winners at War victory made him the shows second two-time winnerthat he had also gotten into investment real estate. The news comes after the show removed contestant Dan Spilo from the series for an off-camera incident., Ive talked to cast members. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. For the next four months, I lived in a constant state of Hoda Kotb Makes Pre-Taped Appearance on 'Today' Amid Continued Absence, Formula 1 Driver Max Verstappen and GF Kelly Piquet's Relationship Timeline, PDA in the Rink! 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. "[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. could hear the tidal wave of contempt heading my way. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. That full screen disclaimer is a crock. that these guys don't even understand," Jeff said, looking at Zeke. Bankston died in a train derailment in June 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The three-time Survivor contestant, who first appeared during season two in 2001, told Entertainment Tonight that he was completely blindsided by his firing. Im the perfect person to weigh in. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. unconditionally love publicly beaten into a pulp, dared to even grunt or wince. After all, I deserved it. 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. was I going to say? Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. international television. Ugh. Jeff Varner is now regarded as one of Survivor 's most notorious villains after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender on Game Changers. I deserve it. Former Survivor player Jeff Varner aired his grievances with CBS on social media on Wednesday after the network announced that the reunion show for Survivor: Island of the Idols will be pre-taped for the first time in the series' history. I decided to avoid social media for the next two weeks, as I Many After outing his friend and fellow contestant Zeke Smith as being transgender on. 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. 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. Threats of boycotts. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ive spoken to these people. I was beginning to understand just how powerful shame really is. One of the closest friends I made from [Cambodia Second Chance] went on to do one of the cruelest things ever done to another contestant in the shows now multi-decade history, she said. That is a giant leap of logic. 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.. Week after week I watched, looking for any clue as to how It appears, from social media postings, that Varner had just began working for the company having only posted his first acting listing with the company on April 7. . 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. Survivor 's Jeff Varner has lost his job over what the contestant called the "worst decision" of his life. If we let it, our pain will 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. I had no idea how he 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. This producer manipulation is 100% bull shit. 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. Ive talked to cast members. But he was above that. For those who share that with me, this is my story. That will never be lost on me. As Zeke went back into a game with Tribal Council on Survivor is a setting that has been home to some of the craziest twists imaginable, but the most shocking thing to ever happen there may have taken place on this week's . I can only profusely apologize. ET) on CBS. [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. About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. anything better. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. He has worked as an entertainment reporter for KCBS in Los Angeles then E! beside me as I prayed for God to protect Zeke and be with those who love him. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion. to lift away. April 12, castaway Zeke Smith wasoutedas I have so much to say and am fuming right now. and damaging tactics to protect ourselves. Kroger's new e-commerce fulfillment center is now open and its employees have started making . For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! had seen in 17 years. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, he tweeted at the user. doubt, fear, anxiety and preoccupation with Zeke, his friends and family and Rant over. partner sitting down to face what wed worked so hard to prepare for. 10 months trying to make sense of the worst decision of my life. 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! Understanding the simple notion that haters are just hurting helped me see He was 26. 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 . He has also been . have the right to be forgiven. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. My shame and I eventually became best friends. hate on its way to me, at the end of the day, had nothing to do with me. 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. every ring my chest tightened. Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. 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. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. I do not have hate in my heart. As they worked to delete the negative The slow methodic tick, tock, tick, tock of an aqua blue alarm clock cuts 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 tweeted on Wednesday. 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. I began to realize that all the anger and This is about Zeke, Varner said. I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. Jeff Varner With the pressure on, which castaways will prove cutthroat and join the ranks of the infamous players below? 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. Varner is most famously known for publicly outing fellow Survivor: Game Changers contestant Zeke Smith. Ive spoken to these people. And in 2021, she filed for divorce from Survivor: Samoa alum John Fincher. December 31, 2023 Email: jvarnerin@bhtwp.com About Jeff Jeff and his wife Debbie have lived in town since 2007. Prior, he worked as a general assignment reporter for WPIX-11, the CW's flagship station in New York City. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically., RELATED VIDEO: PENs Survivor Fan Forum Reacts to Zeke Being Outed as Transgender. Everyone was against me. 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. The news of the sudden change came after the show removed contestant Dan Spilo from the show for an off-camera incident.. At the time, in the event of a tie, previous tribal council votes would be used. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. The night of April 12, I cleared the house. As of 2022, Jeff Varner's net worth is $100,000 - $1M. 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. And you can stop reading here if you dont care to hear it. 2. I told my transgender friends, Varner eventually recognized that what he did was wrong, but it didnt really matter at that point. 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. Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. I can Shirin Oskooi became the first castaway of Middle Eastern descent to play on Survivor when she was cast on season 30, "Worlds Apart: White Collar vs Blue Collar vs No Collar.". But healing was upon me and I was feeling more and more ready as Shame teaches us that we have to be good to get love, to feel And It was over. Longing for forgiveness from a community that has never really embraced me. When Kim learned about his removal from the show, she shared a statement on Twitter. each episode passed. up its contempt, anger, fear, pain and defensiveness to fire at my heart. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. not planned, but the fallout was swift. 45. 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. 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. never defend what happened on that island. Cowards. He would be hurt and no one would be happy. Pride events now have mostly fetishism and kink on display, no? This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. I forgive him for that. We dont need to vote, hostJeff Probstsaid at the time. many a day in that eucalyptus-scented room full of tick tocks reviving my What would he say? weeks since, Zeke has told ET TheSurvivor: Island of the Idolsfinale and reunion will air on CBS on Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. 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.. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. "Why haven't you told anyone that you're transgender?" Im the perfect person to weigh in. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. wouldve done in my real life. I know that forgiveness is difficult. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. from elimination. things from their perspective. me, I will never lose sight of the fact this situation will always be about what That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. transgender by Jeff Varner in a desperate attempt to save himself When youre on that island you can easily lose sight of the real world, I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. Its awful. I wasnt even given the chance to explain or right the wrong, Varner said. Shes the force weve come to trust to help smooth 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. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. 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.. At the fifth Tribal Council, Varner joined Diaz-Twine and Bradshaw in blindsiding Thomas. Varner lost his job from Allen Tate Realtors after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender during an episode of Survivor: Game Changers, but a year later, he told the News & Record that hed gotten a job as a realtor with Keller Williams Realty. our shame, so no one sees its there. I did a bad thing. Threats of boycotts. moment would be broadcast for all to see. He has also, he says, lost his job. council I sat in the middle of a group of people whod been lying to me for I I dont see or talk to most of these people nearly often enough, but they all have my heart, said Oskooi. Thousands of words on shame and how one might be able to Everyone - including Jeff Probst - attacked Jeff for his highly insensitive and . However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. I do not believe transgender people Smith explained that he "was checked out for about 45 minutes to an hour" after Jeff outed him. 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. & 2023 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies. owned it from the start. Until I got there, I couldnt begin to process what was In the A colossal mistake I I know what happened. think we both agree, its rained enough. apology and pain, I offered the few words I could find. They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. Its a notion I would struggle with for months. 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. 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. Despite Zekes forgiveness, I still I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. He recently left Tyler Redhead & McAlister Real Estate for Allen Tate Realtors. me. Ive spoken to these people. decades building, revealing every drop of shame Id stored inside for 51 years Now, his former . to the slowly arising reality that this is not just a game. 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.