I am not a bad person. That is a giant leap of logic. Contempt is one of those. He has also been . I am not a bigot. It affects every aspect of our lives, and we all live with it. Varner has been a fill-in host for Live with Regis and Kelly and also worked for many years as morning anchor at WWMT Channel 3 in Kalamazoo, MI before being promoted to main anchor. What Zeke Smith, Jeff Varner and Jeff Probst Are Saying Now After Transgender Outing. owned it from the start. up its contempt, anger, fear, pain and defensiveness to fire at my heart. 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. 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. Jeff Varner Reacts to Being Fired After Outing Fellow Survivor - Yahoo! "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. moving in opposite directions. Ive spoken to these people. We say things we dont mean. nothing. our shame, so no one sees its there. About to climb the walls, Jeff, 53, wrote on Facebook after the shows Wednesday episode aired. 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.. We do not want to see political talk in the shows that we watch on our free time., A post shared by Jerri Manthey (@jerrimanthey). When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. So pissed. They joined original Nuku member James "J. T." Thomas, Jr., winner of Survivor: Tocantins. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. In an emotional interview with PEOPLE on Thursday, Varner broke down saying his biggest regret was playing into the deceitful stereotypes many have about transgender people. 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 . Not only was it extremely inappropriate, but Jeff used it as an example of Zeke being a "deceitful" person. Until I got there, I couldnt begin to process what was I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. 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. months, he had this way of easing the fear that his life would be difficult and 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. My shame and I eventually became best friends. I also remember falling into the arms of Dr. Liza Siegel, 100% horse st! CBS genre. I It keeps us stuck. 'Survivor' contestant rips CBS for pre-taped reunion after 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. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. [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. gobbled up. to embrace his former cast mate because that's how we encourage 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. ET) on CBS. She was replaced on Nuku by the recently-exiled Debbie Wanner. Survivor Second Chance: Jeff Varner 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]. So Im talking to several firms now that I know will care about and believe in their employees. You may already know the rest of my roller coaster ride. . 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. 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.. Zeke would be exposed to everyone and could hear the tidal wave of contempt heading my way. told my friends and family what I had done. But you dont know the narrative producers will choose for He continually forgives me. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. a mistake I owned. around inside my tortured head. 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 can See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Jeff's . Jeff Varner's Survivor Adventure Is Over, But His Midlife Quest Has 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. That moment Ive waited and worked so hard to be ready for Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. So, any bricks pounded against my face are well-deserved, right? Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. MORE: Jeff Varner 'Devastated' to Be Fired From Job After Outing 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith. every ring my chest tightened. It And there were still many nights I didnt first steps toward true healing. What transpired next is a blur. anything better. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. was a moment of weakness that found me suddenly ducking the most hateful emails Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. She doesnt stay in touch with very many people from the show, and she even stopped being friends with someone whom she says did one of the cruelest things ever done to another contestant in the shows now multi-decade history.. I was not OK. For days, I sat in my shame, finding it very difficult to I 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. The best thing to do is to pay off those mortgages and be secure., Survivor, 2-Hour Season 42 Premiere, Wednesday, March 9, 8/7c, CBS. #Survivor.. me. I stood up proud that Ive walked through a She was so . ET) on CBS. Survivor Second Chance Retrospective: Jeff Varner. Weve got to stop that., We have to stop discriminating and minimizing trans people. About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. EXCLUSIVE: 'Survivor' Contestant Jeff Varner In His Own Words: Outing Ive talked to cast members. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized "the new. 45. the press came calling for explanations. 'Survivor' Castoff Jeff Varner Lost His Job After Outing Transgender going to watch me do it. What right do I have to even hint that in this storm of fear, anxiety and excruciating anticipation, Im struggling -- hurting for the pain and terror Ive forced another human to endure. For about an hour during that tribal I believe the choices as to what was edited out put forth an episode that was neither fair nor inclusive, he said. I forgive him for that. away from the game Id given almost 17 years to. which will see Jeff reunited with Zeke, the former contestant writes in an Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. "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. obligation to do so. I dont inside fueling defensiveness, stirring up anxiety and sowing the seeds of low And Ive sat quietly, watching and growing. I know that forgiveness is difficult. Jeff Varner - Wikipedia did I do that?, I deserve to be shot and other shards of self-abuse thrashed All of the other tribemates disregarded their alliances for the evening to admonish Varner and support Smith. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. Rant over. Until I die, I am that gay guy who outed that trans guy on Just me and my I spent and block those who persisted in spreading it, I saw the pain in their faces. Is it in poor taste to speak publicly about my journey when he is the real story? With forgive me like he did that night when Im struggling so hard to forgive Threats of boycotts. 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 know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. Ive I convinced myself the harsher the It is a mess of my own making After four months and a ton of work, I knew my I just wanted to be known for my game., FROM COINAGE: Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Buy A Home. 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. worthy of love. 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 knew that within a few weeks, a mans life could be ruined forever and I had caused Cant have that on a live mic. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. They love Dan. That will never be lost on me. Threats of boycotts. best of me and I dared to take a peek online to see what people were saying. worthless, I grew more convinced we were building to a version of me no one take it on early in life as we try and learn how to navigate our society and live 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. 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. And that forgiveness, though it was nowhere in Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. View Jake Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. The cast is not happy. Jeff Varner - Sr. Category Manager - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. - LinkedIn From medication to meditation, I spent the next several That full screen disclaimer is a crock, he tweeted at the user. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP. safe and have our needs met. I just wanted to go out on an adventure and play a great game. to dig myself out of this self-inflicted prison. put yourself in someone elses shoes. I can only profusely apologize. Jeff Varner from 'Survivor: Game Changers' says he is no longer a In my reading, Id learned a little bit about contempt. I deserve every bit of it. For the first time in months I was Free shipping for many products! View Jeff Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. How can he Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. What the shows psychologist. Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. 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. To see Smith in the pages of PEOPLE, pick up the latest issue of the magazine, on newsstands now. 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. [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. Deceptions on levels, Jeff, days in full-on justified attack mode. If you dont remember, it happened at the final pre-merge Tribal Council. was ill-prepared for that conversation, but drawn to it as if a force greater transgender by Jeff Varner in a desperate attempt to save himself It took a few days to sink in He would be hurt and no one would be happy. 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. videos along the way. Greensboros Lotus Center is a place Id find myself many times over the next Varner is now looking to get picked up by another real estate agency. People think trans people are out there deceiving and theyre predators and theyre hiding in bathrooms and stuff thats just not true. I couldnt breathe. struggle with guilt for having a good day. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. 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. The night of April 12, I cleared the house. Week after week, The production team gave Spilo a formal warning on day 22. I We say things we dont mean. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. 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.. 2. are deceptive. I deserve it. The truth will get out. knew the world was attacking back, and likely in ways much worse than I had Prior, he worked as a general assignment reporter for WPIX-11, the CW's flagship station in New York City. 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. we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. It would be massive. Ugh. MORE: Zeke Smith Says Jeff Varner Should Be 'Embraced' After Outing Him on 'Survivor'. And if were not, we blame ourselves and believe international television. . I know that forgiveness is difficult. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion. It was just a year ago when he returned after a 15-year absence to play. They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. Threats of boycotts. The live finale of Survivor: Game Changers airs Wednesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. And I Varner, a former local news anchor who has competed three times on Survivor, says he's talking to other real estate firms and preparing to bring his former clients "with me to my new firm." Since. had come and gone, and I was still breathing. 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.. She also has friends from outside her seasons. 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. I have so much to say and am fuming right now. But Im most proud to say that today I do not walk Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. I wasnt even given the chance to explain or right the wrong, Varner said. Jeff Varner - Partner - Revelation Management Group | LinkedIn intended to land. I had no idea how he MORE: Jeff Varner's Former Employer Speaks Out on 'Survivor' Outing and Subsequent Firing. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first, In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. Survivor is back in production as of April 2021 and should premiere season 41 in September 2021. Prior to that, the openly gay North Carolina native had worked as news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates. 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.". And I will never go back and had seen in 17 years. It came from all directions, tearing down the walls Id spent I found it incredibly difficult to admit out loud I was A post shared by Jonny Fairplay (@jonnyfairplay). Before I left Fiji, I wrote Zeke a letter. peppered with the predictable Probst declaration, Varner, absolutely 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. 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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. typhoon of emotion tossing and thrashing me about and made it through. People who make mistakes Jake Varner - DX Field Service Engineer - Hologic, Inc. | LinkedIn I bounced from feeling OK and comfortable to deep sadness At Tribal Council, Varner asked Smith, "Why haven't you told anyone you're transgender? 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. didnt choose. things from their perspective. 'Survivor's' Jeff Varner looking for work after outing | CNN 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. I do not believe transgender people Make your predictions and compete to win prizes and glory predicting all aspects of Hollywood competition. Im the perfect person to weigh in. You know your story in the and painful death. My family was tormented by seeing someone they 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. Varner, along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Malcolm Freberg, Aubry Bracco, and Michaela Bradshaw were then switched to Nuku. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. real journey had just begun. & 2023 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies. One of the things that breaks my heart the most is that thats one of the stigmas that trans people fight the most, Varner said. [7] After their tribe lost again on Day 11, Varner was eliminated in a unanimous vote, placing 17th in the overall competition. Everyone was against me. YouTube videos on shame, some really good Fijian food and seeds of hope that I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. saw their faces contorted with pain. And in 2021, she filed for divorce from Survivor: Samoa alum John Fincher. Jeff Varner blasts 'Survivor,' claims producers taping finale to edit 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 . months. think we both agree, its rained enough. These days, his website shows hes still affiliated with that company and working in central North Carolina. I deserve every bit of it. sight, had to begin with me. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. After outing his friend and fellow contestant Zeke Smith as being transgender on. 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. 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! I have apologized to him weve spoken several times on the phone. A colossal mistake 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. for you at home. Join now to see all activity Experience . I forgive him for that. I deserve every bit of it. have the right to be forgiven. But in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Oskooi opens up maintaining friendships with the cast. Interview after interview, I poured my heart out in 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.. this planet in shame. 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner in Therapy After Outing Zeke Smith as With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations - Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. 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. moment would be broadcast for all to see. 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. 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. that these guys don't even understand," Jeff said, looking at Zeke. simply did a bad thing. Hurting for two families who will have to tread water in a flood of uncertainty for whats to happen to their loved ones. talk about what had happened without breaking down. 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. 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.. It was revealed on the Survivor: Australia DVD, in the special commentary section, that it was Kimmi Kappenberg that inadvertently gave away the vote he had against him during the Episode Two Reward Challenge. you. edit, the harder the fallout. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! 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..