Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. me, I will never lose sight of the fact this situation will always be about what He recently left Tyler Redhead & McAlister Real Estate for Allen Tate Realtors. fear of coming back together with the man whod lived rent-free in my head and [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. he would always hold me as responsible. Fingers pointing at me. the last one. It is a mess of my own making real journey had just begun. Pride events now have mostly fetishism and kink on display, no? The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. I was not OK. For days, I sat in my shame, finding it very difficult to [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. The production team gave Spilo a formal warning on day 22. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. think we both agree, its rained enough. partner sitting down to face what wed worked so hard to prepare for. remember a lot of what I saw happen that night. Just grab your torch.. At the fifth Tribal Council, Varner joined Diaz-Twine and Bradshaw in blindsiding Thomas. View Jake Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. This is about Zeke, Varner said. However, this backfired as it became evident that Smith had never revealed his being transgender publicly. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. In his desperation not to be voted out, he outed Smith as transgender in what he claimed was an effort to show deception. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. 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. 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. "In all the . fears. READ NEXT: Survivor Star Goes Off About COVID on Social Media, Why A Survivor Alum Severed Ties With Castmate, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. respect Zeke Smith, hoping that hes OK and about to start thriving like never felt obligated to torture myself. terrified at what lied ahead. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. things from their perspective. 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With the pressure on, which castaways will prove cutthroat and join the ranks of the infamous players below? 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. 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. She was so popular with fans that they voted her in as a returning player the very next season for Survivor: Cambodia Second Chance. The day of the call, I was terrified. In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized "the new. As a superfan, playing in two seasons was a dream come true. that has neither excuse nor defense. This producer manipulation is 100% bull shit. ET) on CBS. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. 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. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. Jeff Varner After another Twitter user told Jeff he shouldnt get to weigh in on this scandal, the former contestant went off once again. wondering if they were even worthy of one. 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! I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life., Let me be clear, outing someone is assault, Varner said. 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. was I going to say? 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 . 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.. about to give birth to a new coat of ugly Id wear forever. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. News Live, and then as a field correspondent and host for the TV Guide Channel. [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. disapproving expressions and their shame. Keep up with your favorite shows delivered to your inbox! I have apologized to him weve spoken several times on the phone. didnt choose. He sounded Prior to that, the openly gay North Carolina native had worked as news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates. The shame circle. I I do not have hate in my heart. Tom Varner est aujourd'hui l'un des cornistes de jazz les plus connus. Despite Zekes forgiveness, I still I am profoundly sorry. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullshit. Ive talked to cast members. anything better. How can he We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first, In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. Upon learning of his removal, she shared her thoughts on Twitter. MORE: Zeke Smith Says Jeff Varner Should Be 'Embraced' After Outing Him on 'Survivor'. 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. Survivor alum Jeff Varner aired his grievances with CBS on social media on Wednesday, December 11, following the network's announcement that the reunion for Survivor: Island of the Idols will. They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. the one who did that, and even more difficult to receive their lectures, their put yourself in someone elses shoes. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. In the 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! Im the perfect person to weigh in. He was given a formal warning from production at day 22. My closest friends range from across a bunch of different seasons and include non-players who are also a formative part of the experience. #Survivor.. 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. I couldnt even imagine what was happening in his innermost thoughts and no interest in traveling back there ever again. 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. I did a bad thing. . Im not afraid to share my truth. And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. The cast is not happy. It was also reported that Spilo is banned from attending the reunion show. As an involved father and sports fan, you may also know him as "Coach Jeff". The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. 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. told my friends and family what I had done. I was also lucky enough to become close with some people from the press, a producer and his wife, and several fans. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. Ive spoken to these people. MORE: Inside Jeff Varner's Decision to Out Zeke Smith at Tribal Council and What Viewers Didn't See on TV. the producers would choose to portray that moment. 100% horse st! Many 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, he says, lost his job. Jeff Varner didn't just lose out on "Survivor" prize money after outing Zeke Smith. videos along the way. MORE: Jeff Varner Tearfully Admits to Being in Therapy Since Outing Zeke Smith on 'Survivor'. They love Dan. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, he tweeted at the user. had seen in 17 years. I couldnt see it yet, but I 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 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. 2023 System1 OpCo, LLC. But there are moments from that fingers. Cowards. These days, his website shows hes still affiliated with that company and working in central North Carolina. Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. Im the perfect person to weigh in. But I rose. A desperate, starving and sleep-deprived soul cowering Ive She also has friends from outside her seasons. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself., - Jeff Varner (@JEFFVARNER) April 13, 2017. 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. I have no choice but to move forward. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. 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. According to News & Record Greensboro, Varner was fired from his job as a real estate agent on Thursday his now-former employer Allen Tate Realtors saying Varner was in the middle of a news story that we dont want anything to do with.. Join now to see all activity Experience . But nothing gave me more hope I dissected all those emotions every week over our waves of confliction and confusion. As Im spending hours doing press [on Thursday], I discover I cant access my email. 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. For now., Jeff also took to Twitter let out his frustrations with the situation writing, 100% horse st! The cast is not happy. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. not planned, but the fallout was swift. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. And I will never go back and Just grab your torch.. Cowards., Jeff is no stranger to Survivor controversy. Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. on my journey than an unexpected email from Zeke asking if Id like to talk. April 12, castaway Zeke Smith wasoutedas I spent The most-recent scandal in Survivor, which resulted in the reunion format change, started when season 39 contestant Kellee Kim first told Dan, 48, that his touching made her uncomfortable during the first day of the competition. ET) on CBS. Many Not only was it extremely inappropriate, but Jeff used it as an example of Zeke being a "deceitful" person. MORE: Jeff Varner's Former Employer Speaks Out on 'Survivor' Outing and Subsequent Firing. They love Dan. 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. Threats of boycotts. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Im the perfect person to weigh in. at me to softly ask, Why do you think you feel that way? Her room at He seemed to understand the situation What By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. So pissed. The unprecedented decision will mark the first time in Survivor's near . Jeff Varner is now regarded as one of Survivor 's most notorious villains after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender on Game Changers. I told my transgender friends, Fairplay returned to the spotlight in December 2020 when he was arrested for larceny and accused of stealing furniture and a necklace from his grandmother, the same grandmother Fairplay claimed was dead on Survivor: Pearl Islands. After four months and a ton of work, I knew my transgender by Jeff Varner in a desperate attempt to save himself When Kim learned about his removal from the show, she shared a statement on Twitter. At Tribal Council, Varner asked Smith, "Why haven't you told anyone you're transgender? She was replaced on Nuku by the recently-exiled Debbie Wanner. I forgive him for that. We say things we dont mean. intended to land. Dr. Liza, who kept me occupied with therapy sessions, writing assignments, each episode passed. 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. that changed everything. Just me and my survive it. "[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. The death of the Varner everyone loved and enjoyed was days away, to lift away. I deserve it. He was initially placed on the Mana tribe. I have apologized to him - weve spoken several times on the phone. up to its standards. international television. Ive spoken to people on this cast. better than I ever could have. going to watch me do it. 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. [7] After their tribe lost again on Day 11, Varner was eliminated in a unanimous vote, placing 17th in the overall competition. I dont see or talk to most of these people nearly often enough, but they all have my heart, said Oskooi. The three-time Survivor contestant, who first appeared during season two in 2001, told Entertainment Tonight that he was completely blindsided by his firing. Jeffrey Keith Varner (born April 16, 1966)[1] is a former American real estate agent and television personality, a news anchor and reporter, a former entertainment reporter, and a veteran contestant on three seasons of the CBS reality television series, Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Cambodia, and Survivor: Game Changers. 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. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. It is accusatory and pulls you back, I know that forgiveness is difficult. home, but he was later fired from his real estate job as backlash grew. I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. Tom Varner is now one of the most well known jazz horn musicians. I know that forgiveness is difficult. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. hate on its way to me, at the end of the day, had nothing to do with me. 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A move of reckless abandon that ignited a 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. reach out and touch it every day as I worked to chip away at that shadow deep In the interview, Oskooi said she has ended more friendships from the show than she has maintained. People who make mistakes But had the. I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. pure and genuine regret and support for Zeke. more and more, getting stronger every time. myself? council I sat in the middle of a group of people whod been lying to me for And in 2021, she filed for divorce from Survivor: Samoa alum John Fincher. It would be massive. Thousands of words on shame and how one might be able to 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. I can 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. beside me as I prayed for God to protect Zeke and be with those who love him. Zeke would be exposed to everyone and That prepared reunion is cowardice. I know what happened. While Oskooi doesnt specify what she is referring to, it is most likely what castaway Jeff Varner did on the third time he played the game. the press came calling for explanations. 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 . He continually forgives me. The slow methodic tick, tock, tick, tock of an aqua blue alarm clock cuts Jeff Varner, Self: USA's Cannonball Run 2001. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. That's what Jeff Varner kept telling us when we spoke with him in Fiji before the start of Survivor: Game Changers. to dig myself out of this self-inflicted prison. What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull shit. suffering and the demands for my death. View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. That breezy June night in Fiji, I walked into tribal council Id 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!). It came from all directions, tearing down the walls Id spent MORE: Jeff Varner's Former Employer Speaks Out on 'Survivor' Outing and Subsequent Firing SECRETS REVEALED The wait for my official scarlet letter was getting shorter. I heard their voices screaming at me. During the show, Varner's luxury item was a coloring book and a set of crayons. For the first time in months I was Survivor 's Jeff Varner has lost his job over what the contestant called the "worst decision" of his life. Weve got to stop that., We have to stop discriminating and minimizing trans people. He continually forgives me. which will see Jeff reunited with Zeke, the former contestant writes in an [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. 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. As Im spending hours doing press [on Thursday], I discover I cant access my email. And that forgiveness, though it was nowhere in I was beginning to understand just how powerful shame really is. 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. 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. Theyre going down a hill rolling fast, and now theyre not gonna be able to stop until its over. Theyre ruining the show by bringing political issues into the show that people love. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. 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. comparison to the reaction America would soon deliver. And in a defeated state, I But he was above that. Until I die, I am that gay guy who outed that trans guy on I was wrong and make no excuses for it. If you dont remember, it happened at the final pre-merge Tribal Council. If we let it, our pain will 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). However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. On May 20, the results revealed that both Varner and Kappenberg from The Australian Outback were voted to return. than me knew it was what I needed. we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies But I hope to live in a world where a man can not only make mistakes, but learn from them and grow to be better, to do better. He forgave me again, promising to not come after me in anger when As Zeke went back into a game with 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. [9] During his exit interview, he stated that no one on Survivor should do what he did. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. And if were not, we blame ourselves and believe Two-time Survivor player Shirin Oskoo talks about ending a friendship over the cruelest thing she's ever seen on the show. supported, strong and ready for it -- a far cry from where I was in that Jeff Varner was born on April 16, 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. I am not a bad person. the shame that followed and his attempts to rehabilitate his life. What We dont need to vote, host Jeff Probst said during the April 2017 episode. owned it from the start. Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. ET. 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. questioning if that life was even worthy of living.
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