Jeff has not responded to Richards claim. I honor it and I acknowledge it. No matter who they are or where they are. Survivor: Jeff Varner on outing Zeke | EW.com - Entertainment Weekly Cowards. 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. If he wants to take swings at me, I'm the one who will hand him the bat. What, if anything, do you most regret? Thats so dirty, Jeff., Im not using that as anything negative! insisted Varner. & Aubry who targeted Michaela and Michaela & Sandra who targeted J.T.. 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. What Im showing is a deception, started Smith but the rest of the tribemates quickly fired back. At the same time, none of this is about me. ET) on CBS. Current Age: 49 Jeff Varner - Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife, Net Worth - ItsBiography Varner: Kind of. 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. 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. Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. Jeff Probst considered a Survivor idea where players won a celebrity as TheSurvivor: Island of the Idolsfinale and reunion will air on CBS on Wednesday, December 18, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Zeke apologized for leaving Jeff out of the Sandra vote and promised to be honest with him moving forward, with plans of reaching the Final Tribal Council together. 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's about whether trans people have the right to exist in public. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullshit. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. She also has friends from outside her seasons. I want to have more fun this time. 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. Zeke Smith and Jeff Varner Reunite at 'Survivor' Reunion Show -- See 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]. Jeff countered by citing that he had already proven his loyalty to the tribe, while Woo had not. 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. (Choking up.) 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. Jeff told me at Tribal: "Varner, I've known you for 20 years. It was clear to me that this guy is a player. Jeff's lying. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Probst didnt even have them go off and vote in secret. Jeff faced a heavy blow on Night 11 when Malcolm was blindsided. Youre saying there is no line: If Im desperate enough, I will do or say anything. , Its a game for $1 million, and I clearly have made the wrong choice tonight, responded Varner. Multiple Survivor alums, including Russell Hantz and Parvati Shallow, also spoke out in opposition. Click here to make sure you don't miss a single story, and click here to revisit our massive preseason coverage. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. I'm still me and could pop off at any time without warning, but I'm focused on being calmer. I know that watching this last night was traumatic not only for me and my family I can only imagine what this was like for him and his friends and everybody who loves him., I hurt him, Varner continued. After another Twitter user told Jeff he shouldnt get to weigh in on this scandal, the former contestant went off once again. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullsht, he wrote. There he developed and managed the technical and interpersonal aspects of a Human Resources/Operations hybrid system for a staff of 30. It's the opposite of what we should be doing. 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. 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. He likes all kinds of music, especially that which motivates. I kept going back to Samoa and Heroes vs Villains. "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. 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. Eric Dane Bio, Age, Wife, Height, Net Worth, Family, Parents, Movies. As Im spending hours doing press [on Thursday], I discover I cant access my email. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. He told hosts Sean Ross and Evan Ross Katz that Jeff is ruining the game. What just happened onSurvivortonight is 100% bull st. 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. I plan to align myself with the big threats. He is most proud of successfully making the transition from small town living to the much faster pace of a big city. An extensive genealogical search discovered that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrow's mother's side of the tree. Survivor airs Wednesdays (8 p.m. These are wonderful people who are not only trying to live their authentic lives, but thrive. Survivor fans have been in uproar since watching Jeff Varner out Zeke Smith as transgender on Wednesday nights episode and if you missed the shocking moment, you can watch the entire situation unfold from start to finish. His perfect day includes a trip to the mountains with someone special for a day of hiking and nature (including a swim at a breathtaking waterfall). There he developed and managed the technical and interpersonal aspects of a Human Resources/Operations hybrid system for a staff of 30. More Local News It's just horrible. I got forgiveness and compassion from everybody. 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). Knowing that he was on the chopping block, Varner started by pointing out that a secret alliance was forming between two contestants: Smith and Ozzy Lusth. Cant have that on a live mic. When Russell showed up in Samoa, when he did what he did in his season he was horrible, evil, hateful, everybody hated him just a mean nasty person and he turns right around and goes to Heroes vs Villains. Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. Don Lemon Has "No Regrets" After CNN Firing: "I Am a Survivor" - The They love Dan. I'm good to people. Ultimately, Abi-Maria put aside her grudge against Woo, and she, Andrew, and Tasha opted to keep the tribe strong and vote out Jeff 4-1. Put a Ring On It! "Survivor" alum Richard Hatch recently shared his opinion on Jeff Probst and "Survivor 41" on the "Drop Your Buffs" podcast. Editing doesn't help me in that arena, and that's unfortunate. They love Dan. They joined Nuku member J.T. Every single person at Tribal stood up and hugged me. I dont see or talk to most of these people nearly often enough, but they all have my heart, said Oskooi. Wigler: And where do you want to start with that? 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. 'Survivor' Returns: Where Are These 9 Former Villains Now? - TV Insider 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. Jeff Varner Reacts to Being Fired After Outing Castmate - People In May 2007, Jeff left FOX 8 due to what he called "angry and unprofessional management" from the station's news director. Advertisements How old is Jeff Varner? I'm involved in doing stuff. It took me a minute. 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. We dont need to vote, host Jeff Probst said during the April 2017 episode. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. Varner asked Smith at Tribal Council, Why havent you told anyone youre transgender? Varner stated that he believed Smith had been open about his identity with everyone back home but was trying to keep it hidden from his tribemates in the game. T. Thomas, Jr., the Survivor: Tocantins winner. I've spoken to him several times since then. He is a member of the Society of Human Resources. Varner, the tribe has spoken, said Probst, putting out the flame. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. Survivor 40, commonly referred to as Winners at War, featured several previous winners, but Richard Hatch was noticeably absent. Read Zeke'spersonal account of his story by clicking here. 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 deserve it. I just played this game, so the excitement of being back is more tempered by a focus to not get too carried away. After Tribal Council, Jeff planned on trying to convince everyone to get rid of Ozzy for being a physical threat come the merge. 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. Although Varner initially planned to simply stay with his former Ta Keo allies, Fox suddenly realized this was his plan after they lost the immunity challenge and called Varner "a rat" in front of the other tribes. 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. 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. I need to get my tissues here, because it's horrible. And I was wrong. When Mana lost the first two Immunity Challenges, he joined the majority in voting out Ciera Eastin and Tony Vlachos respectively. Sandra told me that he showed up to the airport carrying a bible. With Abi-Maria, Andrew, and Tasha still in control, the vote was narrowed down to Jeff and Woo, who argued that Jeff should be voted out because of his deteriorating physical condition and his poor challenge performance. I couldn't even think about me and my life for months after it was over with. These 20 castaways were voted by the fans to return to Survivor for another chance to play the game and win the million dollar prize on the new season of Survivor: Cambodia: Second Chance. About to climb the walls, Jeff, 53, wrote on Facebook after the shows Wednesday episode aired. 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. [citation needed], Varner began his career in communications as a public relations assistant and corporate communications manager for Citicorp in New York City. In the event of a tie at the time, previous tribal council votes would be used. This time, it's all business. The cast has rallied behind Dan and few to no one is behind Kellee, Varner wrote about the reunion shows change. I hate that I'm a tool some of them will use. #Survivor.. Season 2: Australia, Finished 10th out of 16 & Non-Jury Thats personal!, Varner attempted to defend himself, claiming that he argues for the rights of transgender people every day in the state of North Carolina and would never say or do anything to hurt anyone here., Outing somebody you just outed him! shouted Trang in outrage. d.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].appendChild(js); But right now, I'm just devastated at what I've done to him and his family. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. It was an awful thing to do. Powered by. You don't have a hateful bone in your body." Richard Hatch Says Jeff Probst Is Ruining Survivor, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. It was not about that. 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. The cast is not happy. There were things that were edited out that would have explained things a bit better. This producer manipulation is 100% bull shit. He, along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Malcolm Freberg, Aubry Bracco, and Michaela Bradshaw, were switched to Nuku after the first tribe switch. 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. Survivor: Jeff Probst reacts to Jeff Varner outing Zeke as transgender Zeke forgave me that night. 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. Thomas. What didyou do to get here? No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. how to be an ally to the transgender community. When he was on 2017s Survivor: Game Changes he outed fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to save himself at tribal council. He anchors the 10pm CW7 newscast solo, then joins Judy Markee as co-anchor for Live at 11. Rant over. I know that forgiveness is difficult. In the game, no matter where I was, talking strategy with everybody, Zeke was always popping up. Jeff found himself on the new Angkor tribe with Abi-Maria, Peih-Gee, and Woo Hwang, which held the majority over original Bayon members Andrew Savage and Tasha Fox. It was hard to watch. 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. Im the perfect person to weigh in. That didn't make the editing. Varner describes himself as provocative, energetic, competitive, adventurous, and a free spirit who will try anything twice. I just pray and hope for his safety. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. Survivor. They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. Jeff Varner is an internet project manager, having most recently worked as Director of People and Process for a Manhattan start-up company. These are dignified people. Jeff Varner - Wikipedia 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. Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. As much as I was dreading my emotional breakdown I melted down for an hour, and all of that was edited out. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. 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. My ability to control a volatile group of people and be the determining factor as to who went home on the first two boots. [] He continually forgives me. Everything horrible. 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. I have apologized to him weve spoken several times on the phone. Jeff went on to say that he didnt feel comfortable having Richard on the show, given his background. EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Varner's Former Employer Speaks Out on 'Survivor But because Tribal was edited down so small, you don't see that. 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.. That's where I got the idea to use that secret alliance as a tool. Nobody has the right to out anybody.. Ricard Foye, the Washington based flight-attendant, stepped forward and expressed his discomfort, and therefore the phrase was changed to come on in.. Not at all. (Robert Voets/CBS via Getty. Varner appeared on Survivor: The Australian Outback in 2001. However, he revealed at the reunion that he got hired at a new real estate agency. I'll combine my Outback and Cambodia styleshard gameplay with a more subtle approach. Just grab your torch.. However, when Tai accidentally told him Sandra was the target, Jeff became suspicious. I'm turning this into a positive. (Choking up.) While pursuing his degree with UNC, he was Captain of the National Champion Tar Heel Cheer Team (198990). They are pre-taping the reunion because cast members plan to publicly support Dan and call out producers. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. 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.[3]. Even if I end up in the minority after a swap, I'll make sure there is someone else with me who is more of a target. Rant over. I make mistakes, but I'm a good person with a good heart. Many viewers felt the recent changes made the game too complicated and confusing. 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 I'm just devastated over that. Previously played on: 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. . Everybody has their own personal journey. (Choking up.) In the latest episode of Survivor: Game Changers, Jeff Varner outed fellow castaway Zeke Smith as transgender. Deception on levels, Jeff, that these guys dont even understand theres more., Host Jeff Probst asked Varner to explain himself, at which point Varner turned to Smith in front of the entire group and demanded: Why havent you told anyone youre transgender?. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. I want to tell you about that in the future. A huge mistake. But in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Oskooi opens up maintaining friendships with the cast. 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 . Jeff Varner (@JEFFVARNER) December 12, 2019. It was confirmed for me in watching the show. Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. Cowards., The former reality TV star is no stranger toSurvivordrama. [1], Name: Jeff Varner Prior, he worked as a general assignment reporter for WPIX-11, the CW's flagship station in New York City. As best as circumstances allow, I'll manage a swap better. 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. You're something much more than we think.". Hometown: High Point, NC - Age I asked, "Who are you? Im the perfect person to weigh in. The famous catchphrase has been a part of the show since its inception. ET. Smith finally spoke up, quietly admitting that in the two seasons hes played the game, hes never told anyone that he is transgender. }(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. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. 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. I support you., Jeff, you cant unring the bell, said Probst. I know you're not that person. Sorry. 'Survivor' contestant rips CBS for pre-taped reunion after We have to stop as a society discriminating against trans people and minimizing and separating from them. What this has done is unleash a conversation that will hopefully be good for all of us and lead us in a great direction. On Day 13, he was caught in the middle between the duo of J.T. Varner was then transferred to Nuku, along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Malcolm Freberg, Aubry Bracco, and Michaela Bradshaw. On February 8, 2017, it was revealed that Varner would be one of 20 contestants on Survivor: Game Changers, the shows 34th season. I opened him up to discrimination and to danger and to crime. However, Angkor was sent to live in hardship, being forced to live in a new camp without the any of the supplies that the two original tribes acquired during the marooning. Zeke Smith Talks State of His Relationship With Jeff Varner - E! Online 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. Just grab your torch.. Im not knocking him., It has nothing to do with the game! cried Boehlke. Jeffs put himself in this fake role of being an arbiter when hes one of the worst offenders of being so [not] self-aware and terribly, terribly homophobic. "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. Jeffrey Keith Varner (born April 16, 1966) is an American real estate agent and television personality, a former 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. This producer manipulation is 100% bull st. What skills do you bring to Survivor that will make you a useful member of the group and what skills have you been learning since you last played? Alas, he was voted out one cycle short of the merge, thus missing out on the jury for a third consecutive time. They love Dan. And out of my mouth, it came. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. Mandi is an experienced writer on various topics with a passion for telling stories with words. About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. 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. "I'm arguing for my life," he proclaimed. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. He also caused trouble for Survivor producers in season 8 when he decided to run an immunity challenge in the nude and deliberately rubbed up against his fellow castaway Sue Hawk, Us Weekly reported. This interview just has to be about Zeke. 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.