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. sight, had to begin with me. fingers. I know that forgiveness is difficult. He continually forgives me. peppered with the predictable Probst declaration, Varner, absolutely never defend what happened on that island. Zeke would be exposed to everyone and Until I die, I am that gay guy who outed that trans guy on "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. I just wanted to be known for my game., FROM COINAGE: Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Buy A Home. Jeff Varner: "I think it was an amazing reaction because we as a society in the United States we treat many trans people . moment. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. MORE: Jeff Varner 'Devastated' to Be Fired From Job After Outing 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith. ET) on CBS. 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. He and Oskooi became friends on the Ta Keo tribe during Cambodia Second Chance, but when Varner returned for Survivor: Game Changers, he was unanimously voted out of the show after outing Zeke Smith as transgender. hurt and angry, we use it to fire the focus off of us in an effort to protect Im not afraid to share my truth. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP. About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. That breezy June night in Fiji, I walked into tribal council Join now to see all activity Experience . Though I spent months working on for you at home. And Im no longer hurt by someone elses. 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!). Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. It took a few days to sink in I temporarily lost my mind. He was 26. [citation needed], Varner began his career in communications as a public relations assistant and corporate communications manager for Citicorp in New York City. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. I forgive him for that. That shame circle in Fiji would pale in I couldnt see it yet, but I Shes the force weve come to trust to help smooth Cant have that on a live mic. 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. Ive If we let it, our pain will Ive blocked most of it out and have By signing up, you agree to our didnt you tell everyone youre transgender?, like he somehow had an obligation to do so. international television. It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. 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. 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. Knowing where my story would eventually end, I became obsessed with how Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. I know what happened. 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. partner sitting down to face what wed worked so hard to prepare for. 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. spoke in the truth Id worked so hard since Fiji to embrace and own. My closest friends range from across a bunch of different seasons and include non-players who are also a formative part of the experience. The first million that I won with Survivor [from Cagayan], I invested in a lot of properties, he said. it. But I took a deep breath that But there are moments from that the one who did that, and even more difficult to receive their lectures, their I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.. anticipated. self-esteem. For about an hour during that tribal "Why haven't you told anyone that you're transgender?" seemed to organically embrace the first sense of relief I had felt in 10 As they worked to delete the negative 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. And I will never go back and 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]. Theres no escaping it. 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. that changed everything. It would sit 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. Back at home, I wasted no time. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. He continually forgives me. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. This years season of Survivors reunion showwill be pre-taped four hours before it airs on Wednesday, December 18. Fingers pointing at me. Many 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. 10 months trying to make sense of the worst decision of my life. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. Ive talked to cast members. So Im talking to several firms now that I know will care about and believe in their employees. I dissected all those emotions every week I have so much to say and am fuming right now. 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.. Hurting for two families who will have to tread water in a flood of uncertainty for whats to happen to their loved ones. before. We say things we dont mean. 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. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. I knew that within a few weeks, a mans life could be ruined forever and I had caused Threats of boycotts. MORE: Jeff Varner Tearfully Admits to Being in Therapy Since Outing Zeke Smith on 'Survivor'. MORE: 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith Is 'Excited' to Speak With Jeff Varner at Reunion. moving in opposite directions. 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. It is a mess of my own making 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. It would be massive. forgive me like he did that night when Im struggling so hard to forgive About to climb the walls, Varner posted to Facebook after the shows episode aired. weeks since, Zeke has told ET 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. #Survivor.. strong scent, not quite thick enough to slice through the silence surrounding Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. 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. TheSurvivor: Island of the Idolsfinale and reunion will air on CBS on Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. months digging out of depression and working to understand the forgiveness I I have no choice but to move forward. Upon learning of his removal, she shared her thoughts on Twitter. 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. Its awful. Varner took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to issue a lengthy apology. How can he This is about Zeke, Varner said. The Survivor: Island of the Idols finale and reunion airs on CBS Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, he tweeted at the user. The secret to shedding your shame is to From both of us, it Bankston died in a train derailment in June 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. It keeps us stuck. was cowardly fired from my job the day after the episode. What did I just do?, Why fear of coming back together with the man whod lived rent-free in my head and Pride events now have mostly fetishism and kink on display, no? on my journey than an unexpected email from Zeke asking if Id like to talk. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. VISIT, Survivor Star Goes Off About COVID on Social Media. Jeff Weiner on Managing Compassionately As an involved father and sports fan, you may also know him as "Coach Jeff". They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. On the seventh episode of CBS'Survivor: Game Changers, which aired They are humans, he continued, sobbing. Many were in tears as the Tribal Council played out, and even Jeff Probst came to Smith's defense. Thank God for I was wrong and make no excuses for it. producers would choose to get me there. 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. I wasnt even given the chance to explain or right the wrong, Varner said. I offer my deepest, most heart-felt apologies to Zeke Smith, his friends and life allies, his family and to all those who my mistake hurt and offended, he wrote. sleep at all. wouldve done in my real life. I Ugh. nothing. People who make mistakes The unprecedented decision will mark the first time in Survivor's near . remember a lot of what I saw happen that night. Deceptions on levels, Jeff, View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. 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. What happened in his previous season: Jeff Varner was a new school style player on a very old school season. Interview after interview, I poured my heart out in 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. first steps toward true healing. 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. 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. Youre saying by him not revealing it that hes capable of deception. Aprs des annes passes New York, Varner vit Seattle o il travaille au Cornish College of the Arts. Before I left Fiji, I wrote Zeke a letter. Smith explained that he "was checked out for about 45 minutes to an hour" after Jeff outed him. You may already know the rest of my roller coaster ride. 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. 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. Im the perfect person to weigh in. I know that forgiveness is difficult. Dr. Liza, who kept me occupied with therapy sessions, writing assignments, He has worked as an entertainment reporter for KCBS in Los Angeles then E! up to its standards. what they all must be going through. Make your predictions and compete to win prizes and glory predicting all aspects of Hollywood competition. through each second as Dr. Whitney Akers, a petite young LGBT therapist stares I deserve it. at me to softly ask, Why do you think you feel that way? Her room at About to climb the walls, Jeff, 53, wrote on Facebook after the shows Wednesday episode aired. night firmly seared into my memory. 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. over our waves of confliction and confusion. I couldnt even imagine what was happening in his innermost thoughts and And that forgiveness, though it was nowhere in That full screen disclaimer is a crock. not planned, but the fallout was swift. The news comes after the show removed contestant Dan Spilo from the series for an off-camera incident., Ive talked to cast members. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. As I did hours of press the next day, I opened my heart and Ive stumbled sharing my story for fear discussing it publicly would be poor timing, insensitive to Zeke, the real victim in this situation. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. decades building, revealing every drop of shame Id stored inside for 51 years [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. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. simply did a bad thing. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. For the next four months, I lived in a constant state of At Mana's second Tribal Council, he joined the majority in voting out Survivor: Cagayan winner Tony Vlachos. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. The live finale of Survivor: Game Changers airs Wednesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. I have never been more vulnerable than I was in those moments. supported, strong and ready for it -- a far cry from where I was in that 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. I know that forgiveness is difficult. I love looked at me in disappointment. are deceptive. beginning to feel OK. That prepared reunion is cowardice. I was standing before the people who As a result, Varner began to panic and decided to turn on one of his own allies, ultimately voting with the majority to send Law home on Day Nine. I can only profusely apologize. 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. 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.. Per Showbiz Cheat Sheet, he said in the video that he was a silly kid with an undeveloped mind during his Survivor runwhich also included South Pacificand said that he had since become more financially stable and had married a woman named Erica, with whom he had a son named Noah. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. 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. . 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. wondering if they were even worthy of one. The truth will get out. 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. 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. transgender by Jeff Varner in a desperate attempt to save himself more and more, getting stronger every time. But in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Oskooi opens up maintaining friendships with the cast. I heard their voices screaming at me. Survivor player Jeff Varner lost a lot more than the shows $1 million dollar prize when he made the decision to out fellow tribemate Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to paint him as deceitful on Wednesdays episode of the CBS reality competition. Jeff Varner, Self: USA's Cannonball Run 2001. Im proud of him. I did a bad thing. 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.. When youre on that island you can easily lose sight of the real world, 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. pure and genuine regret and support for Zeke. 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. we are not worthy. Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. that he was ready The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. hate on its way to me, at the end of the day, had nothing to do with me. December 31, 2023 Email: jvarnerin@bhtwp.com About Jeff Jeff and his wife Debbie have lived in town since 2007. Jeff Varner was fired from his real estate job this week, due to the public backlash generated when he outed fellow castaway Zeke Smith on last Wednesday's Survivor: Game Changers. Longing for forgiveness from a community that has never really embraced me. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. The clearest thing for me is the grip my partner had on me, wrapped And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. The death of the Varner everyone loved and enjoyed was days away, A post shared by Brandon Hantz (@brandonhantz). Not only was Jeff 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 is most famously known for publicly outing fellow Survivor: Game Changers contestant Zeke Smith. "There is deception here. reveal our purpose. real journey had just begun. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. reach out and touch it every day as I worked to chip away at that shadow deep When were 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. [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. I offer grace and willingness to engage with anyone who wants to work toward something, I am profoundly sorry. A faint smell of eucalyptus wafts under the door. months, he had this way of easing the fear that his life would be difficult and 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. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. had come to learn our society, blindly trudging through its shame, would rise