That prepared reunion is cowardice. I'm doing great stuff in the future, and I hope you'll give me time in the future to talk about it. He was a weekend anchor and reporter at FOX 8 WGHP in High Point, North Carolina. She also has friends from outside her seasons. Tribal Council S34E06 (1 of 4) Survivor: Game Changers, Jeff Varner outs Zeke, Please support me by installing my Puzzles from Survivor app: apps.apple.com/us/app/puzzle-cluster/id1460284314 Alliance Tracker for Survivor app: apps.apple.com/us/app/alliance-tracker-for-survivor/id1486051580 #Survivor #SuvivorSuperFan #SurvivorGeek Twitter: twitter.com/rrTenz survivor.fandom.com/wiki/What_Happened_on_Exile,_Stays_on_Exile Day 18 I don't want to lose Ozzy, because the way I've set it up is to have bigger threats out there than myself. I'm honored to be part of this cast and aware this could be the last time I'm ever on a Survivor island, so I want to soak up the surroundings, beauty, and energy of being part of this landmark series. I forgive him for that. Varner, the tribe has spoken, said Probst, putting out the flame. No matter how good of a game you're playing, drawing the wrong buff can change everything. I'll combine my Outback and Cambodia styleshard gameplay with a more subtle approach. [1], Name: Jeff Varner As I'm explaining to people in Tribal about that, Zeke pops up and says there are no deceptions. Angkor's continued living in squalor continued to take its toll on the tribe, resulting in a complete collapse at the Day 11 Immunity Challenge. They love Dan. At the same time, none of this is about me. Varner and Diaz-Twine stayed on Nuku after the second tribe switch, but were left out of the alliance formed by newcomers Ozzy Lusth, Andrea Boehlke, Tai Trang, Sarah Lacina, and Zeke Smith. Ugh. Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. When Mana lost the first two Immunity Challenges, he joined the majority in voting out Ciera Eastin and Tony Vlachos respectively. Jeff countered by citing that he had already proven his loyalty to the tribe, while Woo had not. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. 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. If you dont remember, it happened at the final pre-merge Tribal Council. The truth will get out. I love him. After a long discussion, Jeff apologized, expressing shame and remorse for what he had done. Smith and Varner shared . Previously played on: This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. He held that chair until he left the station in April 2011. I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. But the most important thing is Zeke forgave me. I want strong relationships when this is over, but already have a host of great friends. Although Jeff was an old school player, he wanted to prove he could succeed in new school Survivor. Survivor. He also revealed that he has been working on a book called "Surviving Shame". It came in the midst of an already tense Tribal Council, with Varner insisting that he was tryingto expose Zeke's ability to "deceive" the other players,not out somebody on national television. I'm just devastated over that. We have to stop as a society discriminating against trans people and minimizing and separating from them. 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 be . It's going to be an awful day. [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. We need to lift their voices and help them and not reduce them to body parts and surgeries and things that objectify and dehumanize them. [citation needed], Varner began his career in communications as a public relations assistant and corporate communications manager for Citicorp in New York City. It was the Survivor moment fans will never forget -- and one that Zeke Smith and Jeff Varner rehashed on Wednesday's three-hour finale. Zeke Smith Talks About His "Work in Progress" Relationship With Survivor Co-Star Jeff Varner Recently voted-off contestant shared his thoughts after being outed as transgender during Tribal Council Despite apologizing on air and admitting his mistake, Varner was unanimously eliminated without a formal vote and was condemned after the episode aired for outing Smith and was fired as a result of the controversy. Because Keith Famie and Tina Wesson were aware of this, and Tina had no votes against her previously while Keith had several, Keiths request to Tina after they had both lasted for hours in the Immunity challenge and were the last two players standing resulted in Tina ending her run, ensuring Keiths safety, and leaving Kucha with no one to vote for who had more votes than Varner: Jeff had two but was unaware of one, and Colby had zero. Just grab your torch.. However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. Jeff was chosen from a pool of 32 candidates to be one of the 20 castaways to compete on the second chance season, Survivor: Cambodia. Im not knocking him., It has nothing to do with the game! cried Boehlke. Playing with too much emotion in the beginning. Varners luxury item on the show was a coloring book and a set of crayons. I dont know if we didnt ask him because I think we called every single winner about returning, and the fact that he was the first is a fair point, he told the outlet. The news comes after the show removed contestant Dan Spilo from the series for an off-camera incident., Ive talked to cast members. Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. Now, he's dealing with professional repercussions.. I didn't know who Zeke was. You don't have a hateful bone in your body." 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.. He is 56 years old as of 16 April 2022. Click here to make sure you don't miss a single story, and click here to revisit our massive preseason coverage. 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. I support you., Jeff, you cant unring the bell, said Probst. Editing connected dots that weren't connected in reality in that moment, and I get why they did that and had to do that. Jeff is the only contestant to be eliminated pre-jury three times. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. With the entire cast still reeling with emotion, Probst moved onto the next step. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life.. Everything horrible. His friends have harassed me all night long. That's the hardest part for me to swallow today. 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 contestant on three seasons of the CBS reality television series, Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Cambodia, and Survivor: Game Changers. He is an avid rollerblader, spending many afternoons skating through Manhattan's busy streets. It's very difficult to live with. In April 2017, Jeff spoke to Entertainment Weekly about season 34 contestant Jeff Varner outing Zeke Smith as transgender. At Tribal Council, a desperate Jeff outedZeke as atransgender man, and tried to insinuate that Zeke's hiding this aspect of his life showed an ability to be deceitful. American reality television contestant, real estate agent and news anchor, 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=1151912285, Survivor (American TV series) contestants, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media alumni, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 00:55. The tribe took a verbal vote and Varner was unanimously sent packing. 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. 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. The truth will get out. That's where I got the idea to use that secret alliance as a tool. I plan to align myself with the big threats. It was revealed that Jeff was fired from his job as a real estate agent after the episode where he outed Zeke aired because of all the controversy. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. Also, my instinctual gameplay. Richard isnt the only Survivor alum who feels this way. Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. Richard appeared on the Drop Your Buffs podcast in February 2022, and the former castaway had some not-so-nice things to say about TV personality Jeff Probst. 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 contestant on three seasons of the CBS reality television series, Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Cambodia, and Survivor: Game Changers. Many fans praised Jeff for his commitment to inclusivity, but Richard isnt convinced the gesture was sincere. That whole deception card was not about trans. How will you play differently this time? Varner: No. This interview just has to be about Zeke. In the Drop Your Buffs interview, Richard didnt hold back his disdain for Jeff, telling Sean and Evan, Jeff Probst is horrendous as a human being. 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. The production team gave Spilo a formal warning on day 22. The cast is not happy. I've spoken to him several times since then. I'm still me and could pop off at any time without warning, but I'm focused on being calmer. I couldn't even think about me and my life for months after it was over with. Just grab your torch.. He is a member of the Society of Human Resources. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. Ive spoken to these people. Eric Dane Bio, Age, Wife, Height, Net Worth, Family, Parents, Movies. On Day 7, a Tribe Switch occurred that split the tribes from two to three. On Day 13, he was caught in the middle between the duo of J.T. It was an awful thing to do. What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. Varner: (Long pause.) Survivor: The Australian Outback I make no excuses. Jeff is the only contestant to be eliminated pre-jury on their first two seasons, and return for a third season. I feel horrible., Soon enough, Varner started crying as the gravity of his actions hit him: Im shocked, he said. There were many things at play and lots going on that brought us to that that moment. They love Dan. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullshit. When we're in pain, when we're in fear, we're a dangerous people, and we often do and say the wrong things. Season 2 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. On July 27, 2009 Jeff was selected as one of the top 20 broadcasters nationwide to serve as finalist for co-host for a day on. It is so wrong for you to bring that up, said Tai Trang. For the evening, all of the other tribemates ignored their alliances to chastise Varner and support Smith. I mean, I haven't been able to live with this for so long. Ive spoken to people on this cast. He did, however, reveal at the reunion that he had been hired by a new real estate agency. I'd love to make the Jury finally, but if I don't, I want to make sure I've soaked it all up in a way that it's okay.[3]. That's the best I can deal with. But I was arguing the deception of the alliance. Many viewers felt the recent changes made the game too complicated and confusing. In the game, no matter where I was, talking strategy with everybody, Zeke was always popping up. 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. In the latest episode of Survivor: Game Changers, Jeff Varner outed fellow castaway Zeke Smith as transgender. These are dignified people. When Nuku lost, Jeff was confident that Tai was going home. See Which Stars Have Gotten Engaged in 2023, Taylor Swift Sings About 'Falling Back in Love' on New Duet After Split, Meghan King Wears 'Fk You' Sweatshirt to Kids School, Jim Edmonds Reacts, 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. An aggressive athlete, he first put on a pair of skates when he was two years old and has since played competitive hockey (right defense) for 16 years, though he admits he spent most of the time in the penalty box. We dont need to vote, host Jeff Probst said during the April 2017 episode. Every single person at that Tribal with the exception of Sarah stood up and hugged me and forgave me and told me they know it's not in my heart. I love love love the game, but I despise whats happening to it, he said. Don Lemon Says He Has No Regrets After CNN Firing: "I Am a Survivor". Updated: 9:30 PM MDT May 24, 2017. Entertainment Weeklyreported the decision was made due to the sensitive subject matter and security concerns. About to climb the walls, Jeff, 53, wrote on Facebook after the shows Wednesday episode aired. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. It all went down during the tribal council, when Varner, 50, outed Smith, 29, in an attempt to paint the Brooklyn-based asset manager as deceitful and therefore worthy of being voted out. The cast has rallied behind Dan and few to no one is behind Kellee, Jeff, who competed on three Survivor seasons, wrote in regards to the reunion change. Instagram: biographyscoop. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. However, this backfired when it was revealed that Smith had never publicly revealed his gender identity. In Game Changers, Jeff aligned with Michaela Bradshaw and Sandra Diaz-Twine early on, with the alliance taking control of the Mana and Nuku tribes. The Survivor Game Changers season is officially upon us, and every week, Parade's Josh Wigler will bring you interviews with the castaways as they're voted off the island. He later appeared on Survivor: All-Stars, which aired in 2004. His real name Jeffrey Keith Varner. Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. Survivor is back in production as of April 2021 and should premiere season 41 in September 2021. Jeff went on to say that he didnt feel comfortable having Richard on the show, given his background. Everything I have to talk about today must be about Zeke and his safety and his peace and all of that. Days after Don . The day finishes with a jog, a shower, a bottle of Merlot, a ruthless game of backgammon, and great sex. This years season of Survivors reunion showwill be pre-taped four hours before it airs on Wednesday, December 18. He also criticized Jeff for being fake. In the season 41 premiere, Jeff asked the cast if they were comfortable with him using the phrase come on in, guys given shifting gender norms in society. I honor it and I acknowledge it. 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. 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. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. Zeke forgave me that night. Awful, he told Sean and Evan. I deserve it. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. "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. Youre saying that by him not revealing it, that [Zeke] is capable of deception, said Probst to Varner. 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. What didyou do to get here? Cowards., Jeff is no stranger to Survivor controversy. However, a second Tribe Switch relegated him to the bottom with Sandra, and after her departure, Jeff scrambled to stay alive, but took it too far by revealing sensitive information about Zeke Smith at Tribal Council. }(document, 'script', 'wibbitz-static-embed')); 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. I cant believe that I did that.. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. Survivors host Probst toldEntertainment Weeklythat he could not comment about Spilos removal or any details out of respect for privacy and confidentiality. The host did share that Spilo was not happy about the decision, but latercalmed down and was actually very respectful about it. We were in a different time and different culture back then and we would never let him run a challenge naked now. That prepared reunion is cowardice. Cowards., The former reality TV star is no stranger toSurvivordrama. Powered by. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. We dont need to vote, said Probst. There was a hidden alliance. However, everyone elseincluding host Jeff Probstquickly and emphatically rebuked Jeff for this tactic. Jeff denounced Varners actions, telling the publication, I cannot imagine anyone thinking what was done to Zeke was okay on any level, under any circumstances., A post shared by JEFF PROBST (@jeffprobst). Current Age: 49 Alas, he was voted out one cycle short of the merge, thus missing out on the jury for a third consecutive time. 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. He was initially placed on the Mana tribe. But in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Oskooi opens up maintaining friendships with the cast. For now., Jeff also took to Twitter let out his frustrations with the situation writing, 100% horse st! 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. So pissed. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, she continued. Im the perfect person to weigh in. At the first Tribal Council, he voted with the majority to remove Ciera Eastin. He chose to side with the latter duo to avenge Malcolm, hence blindsiding J.T.. Jeff and Sandra remained on Nuku after the second tribe switch, but were joined by original Nuku members Sarah Lacina, Andrea Boehlke,Zeke Smith, Ozzy Lusth, and Tai Trang, leaving Jeff and Sandra on the bottom. Richard appeared on season 1 of Survivor, where he was crowned the shows first winner. He is often referred to as the shows first villain. Varner was, until September 2014, main anchor at WNCT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Greenville, North Carolina. This week, he gives his on-the-scene and behind-the-scenes insight and . Season 31: Second Chances, Finished 17th And out of my mouth, it came. Not at all. Survivor fans have been in uproar since watching Jeff Varner out Zeke Smith as transgender on Wednesday night's episode and if you missed the shocking moment, you can watch the entire. I hate that that's what's coming out of this, because that's not what I meant. 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. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. After Tribal Council, Jeff planned on trying to convince everyone to get rid of Ozzy for being a physical threat come the merge. I know what happened. I just played this game, so the excitement of being back is more tempered by a focus to not get too carried away. Im ready to go, said Varner tearfully. The 34th season of "Survivor" premieres Wednesday night on CBS, and Jeff Varner of Greensboro will be among the contestants. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. 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. Smith finally spoke up, quietly admitting that in the two seasons hes played the game, hes never told anyone that he is transgender. Outing is an assault, and I assaulted Zeke that night. When I saw Zeke, I didn't know who he was. 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. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, the real estate agent tweeted back. [6] 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. 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. 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. 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!).