I cant believe that I did that.. He was part of the first team in the corporate world to utilize the internet to communicate project information as a manager in Citicorp's "Product Design and Development Division. Cowards., Jeff is no stranger to Survivor controversy. 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. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. I've been called every name in the book. At Mana's second Tribal Council, he joined the majority in voting out Survivor: Cagayan winner Tony Vlachos. I make mistakes, but I'm a good person with a good heart. 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. 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). As Im spending hours doing press [on Thursday], I discover I cant access my email. Don Lemon Says He Has No Regrets After CNN Firing: "I Am a Survivor". I mean, I haven't been able to live with this for so long. I know what happened. Stephanie Petit is a Royals Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. Smith finally spoke up, quietly admitting that in the two seasons hes played the game, hes never told anyone that he is transgender. Sorry. Varner tried to persuade Lacina, Wanner, and Boehlke to vote out Lusth before the final pre-merge Tribal Council by claiming that Smith was deceiving the tribe about his relationship with Lusth. I didn't even hear it come out of my mouth. The truth will get out. He belonged to the Kucha tribe and made it to the merge, but not to the core group of nine, due to a tie with Colby Donaldson. What Im showing is a deception, started Smith but the rest of the tribemates quickly fired back. Varner was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, 2001. All of that is edited out. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim in this situation. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. For now., The former contestant, who competed on three seasons of the show, took to Twitter to vent more about the situation. I hurt him. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. I asked, "Who are you? & Aubry who targeted Michaela and Michaela & Sandra who targeted J.T.. 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. Ive talked to cast members. However, when Tai accidentally told him Sandra was the target, Jeff became suspicious. Every single person at Tribal stood up and hugged me. He joined the majority in voting out Survivor: Cagayan winner Tony Vlachos at Manas second Tribal Council. 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. And out of my mouth, it came. Everyone was horrified at what he did Andrea Boehlke started crying, Tai Trang and Debbie Wanner started yelling at Varner, and even Jeff Probst was visibly upset at what had happened. What, if anything, do you most regret? 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]. "[9] Varner said he thought that Smith had been open about his identity with everyone back home, but was trying to conceal it to his tribemates in the game. 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. But the bigger consideration was Where is the show now? and Do these 20 winners represent the show today? In that sense, we didnt feel that Rich fit into the equation.. [8] After their tribe lost again on Day 11, Varner was eliminated in a unanimous vote, placing 17th in the overall competition. Varner: Kind of. It's absolutely horrible. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, she continued. More Local News (function(d, s, id) { If he wants to take swings at me, I'm the one who will hand him the bat. That whole deception card was not about trans. Jeff Probst spoke to Us Weekly in January 2020 about Richards absence. Smith has opened up PEOPLE exclusively about the experience, saying he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and still struggles with forgiving him. Powered by. Now, he's dealing with professional repercussions.. That full screen disclaimer is a crock, the real estate agent tweeted back. But in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Oskooi opens up maintaining friendships with the cast. 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. They had to do what they had to do and it had to be the way it had to be. Click here to make sure you don't miss a single story, and click here to revisit our massive preseason coverage. . I love him. I know you're not that person. Debbie Wanner, who had recently been exiled, took her place on Nuku. 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. That's the best I can deal with. I have to rely on the fact that the people who truly know me and love me know that. Jeff Varner - Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife, Net Worth - ItsBiography Jeff's lying. But right now, I'm just devastated at what I've done to him and his family. Current Age: 49 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. "[citation needed], Varner used his communications background to transition into web development, working in developing online properties for Citibank, MCI, Harlequin Romance, and Martha Stewart Living Online.[11]. Put a Ring On It! However, this backfired as it became evident that Smith had never revealed his being transgender publicly. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. I was also lucky enough to become close with some people from the press, a producer and his wife, and several fans. Varner eventually recognized that what he did was wrong, but it didnt really matter at that point. What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull shit. Multiple Survivor alums, including Russell Hantz and Parvati Shallow, also spoke out in opposition. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. Jeff Varner Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family He went to Southern Guilford High School, where he was involved in student government and theatre arts, as well as the yearbook editor; he later earned a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the latest episode of Survivor: Game Changers, Jeff Varner outed fellow castaway Zeke Smith as transgender. Do you not see that? said Probst. Enjoy reading!! He did, however, reveal at the reunion that he had been hired by a new real estate agency. Threats of boycotts. And I think stupid bathroom bills and things like that, especially in the state of North Carolina it's not about bathrooms. 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. Hometown: High Point, NC Jeff Varner Calls Out CBS for Pretaped 'Survivor' Reunion - Us Weekly This interview just has to be about Zeke. I deserve it. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. It was clear to me that this guy is a player. Jeff Varner (Jeffrey Keith Varner) was born on 16 April, 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Currently, he is researching burn trauma organizations for kids with the hope of making a difference. 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. 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?. I feel horrible., Soon enough, Varner started crying as the gravity of his actions hit him: Im shocked, he said. Richard appeared on season 1 of Survivor, where he was crowned the shows first winner. 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 (@JEFFVARNER) December 12, 2019. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! He anchors the 10pm CW7 newscast solo, then joins Judy Markee as co-anchor for Live at 11. I hate that that's what's coming out of this, because that's not what I meant. 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. That prepared reunion is cowardice. Eric Dane Bio, Age, Wife, Height, Net Worth, Family, Parents, Movies. Varner was, until September 2014, main anchor at WNCT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Greenville, North Carolina. I'm trying to argue people: "That's not what I'm talking about!" They were joined by original Nuku member James J. 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. Thats personal you didnt have to do that! said Andrea Boehlke, starting to tear up. Season 31: Second Chances, Finished 17th 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. Varner appeared on Survivor: The Australian Outback in 2001. Many folks will be less enthused to hear his defense of the Edge of Extinction twist that allowed players to be voted out of the game, befriend the jury, and then come back to win. Zeke led the original Nuku alliance into claiming that they were against Tai in order to keep Jeff and Sandra from scrambling, allowing them to take the latter out. I'm not angry at that. Both Varner and Diaz-Twine voted for Trang at Tribal Council, but the rest of the tribe voted against Diaz-Twine, sending her out of the game for the first time in her Survivor career. Im the perfect person to weigh in. Twitter: @BiographyScoop Richard isnt the only Survivor alum who feels this way. I hope America sees that. Ive spoken to people on this cast. For the first time in 39 seasons, Survivors reunion will be pretaped four hours before it airs on Wednesday, December 18, Entertainment Weekly reports, due to the sensitive material of this season and security concerns. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. 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 . 'Survivor' Returns: Where Are These 9 Former Villains Now? - TV Insider Survivor is back in production as of April 2021 and should premiere season 41 in September 2021. He is a member of the Society of Human Resources. 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. He was a member of the Kucha tribe, . Wigler: Did you ever bring any of this up with Zeke privately, before Tribal Council? As I'm explaining to people in Tribal about that, Zeke pops up and says there are no deceptions. 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. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. There are no excuses for what I did. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion. Varner, along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Malcolm Freberg, Aubry Bracco, and Michaela Bradshaw were then switched to Nuku. Survivor: Jeff Varner Fired From Job After Outing Zeke Smith - People While pursuing his degree with UNC, he was Captain of the National Champion Tar Heel Cheer Team (198990). A thorough genealogical investigation revealed that Varner and Edward R. Murrow are related by marriage on Murrows mothers side of the family tree. He has worked as an entertainment reporter for KCBS in Los Angeles then E! 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. I plan to align myself with the big threats. He, along with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Malcolm Freberg, Aubry Bracco, and Michaela Bradshaw, were switched to Nuku after the first tribe switch. I'm involved in doing stuff. 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. Seeing that Jeff's actions would clearly lead to his elimination, Probst took an open roll call from all of the players, then had Varner eliminated without a formal vote. About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. Instagram: biographyscoop. YouTube That's where I got the idea to use that secret alliance as a tool. When we're in pain, when we're in fear, we're a dangerous people, and we often do and say the wrong things. There he developed and managed the technical and interpersonal aspects of a Human Resources/Operations hybrid system for a staff of 30. I got forgiveness and compassion from everybody. The three-time Survivor contestant, who first appeared during season two in 2001, told Entertainment Tonight that he was completely blindsided by his firing. 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. "What just happened on Survivor tonight is 100% bull st. He also revealed that he has been working on a book called "Surviving Shame". Prior employment includes work as a website producer, graphic designer and marketing manager for various companies. I don't know who's gotten in his ear, but he's in a different place today and I respect that. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. Kimmi Kappenberg accidentally gave away the vote he had against him during the Episode Two Reward Challenge, according to the special commentary section of the Survivor: Australia DVD. I know that forgiveness is difficult. ET) on CBS. Additionally, he studied martial arts, receiving a black belt in Tae Kwon Do when he was 15 years old. In the future, I have a plan. [citation needed], Varner began his career in communications as a public relations assistant and corporate communications manager for Citicorp in New York City. Jeff is the only contestant to be eliminated pre-jury three times. ET) on CBS. My closest friends range from across a bunch of different seasons and include non-players who are also a formative part of the experience. These are wonderful people who are not only trying to live their authentic lives, but thrive. Read Zeke'spersonal account of his story by clicking here. 1:07 After Survivor: Game Changers contestant Jeff Varner outed fellow castaway Zeke Smith as transgender, Varner faced public backlash. Jeff Varner (@JEFFVARNER) / Twitter 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 have so much to say and am fuming right now. None of that's there. He is an avid rollerblader, spending many afternoons skating through Manhattan's busy streets. Many viewers felt the recent changes made the game too complicated and confusing. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. 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'm just devastated over that. And I was wrong. "Survivor" alum Richard Hatch recently shared his opinion on Jeff Probst and "Survivor 41" on the "Drop Your Buffs" podcast. - Age Our leaders are trying to erase trans people from society. Jeff Varner - Wikipedia I hurt those who love him. I support you., Jeff, you cant unring the bell, said Probst. Threats of boycotts. It's just horrible. I'm still me and could pop off at any time without warning, but I'm focused on being calmer. 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. I didn't know who Zeke was. Before the final pre-merge Tribal Council, Varner tried to convince Lacina, Wanner, and Boehlke to vote out Lusth, by saying that Smith was deceiving the tribe about his relationship with Lusth. [4] 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. Each week host Jeff Probst will answer a few questions about the most recent episode of Survivor: Game Changers. The others are. }(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. var js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; Zeke Smith and Jeff Varner Reunite at 'Survivor' Reunion Show -- See 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. Survivor. The production team gave Spilo a formal warning on day 22. I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. 'Survivor' Alum Jeff Varner Goes On Rant About The - Fame10 With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. 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. Make your predictions and compete to win prizes and glory predicting all aspects of Hollywood competition. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Jeff Varner Reacts to Being Fired After Outing Castmate - People He stated during his exit interview that no one on Survivor should do what he did. Jeff told Us Weekly in January 2020 that these incidents impacted his decision to not cast Richard on Winners at War., Given his history on our show, it did not seem appropriate, he told the publication. Jeff Varner is a former American real estate agent and television personality who has worked as a news anchor and reporter, an entertainment reporter, and a contestant on three seasons of the CBS reality television series Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Cambodia, and Survivor: Game Changers. I realize it. As soon as he did that, the Tribal Council came to a screeching halt. He was lying to me and playing me. I'll combine my Outback and Cambodia styleshard gameplay with a more subtle approach. Prior, he worked as a general assignment reporter for WPIX-11, the CW's flagship station in New York City. I know what happened that got him removed and Im telling you, 100% horse st. He later appeared on Survivor: All-Stars, which aired in 2004. Ive spoken to these people. Varner: (Long pause.) 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. Its Varner.. Probst didnt even have them go off and vote in secret. Jeff countered by citing that he had already proven his loyalty to the tribe, while Woo had not. No pre-taped reunion will hide it. Not at all. Today's a day for me to send that message: trans people are wonderful, and we should never, ever, out anybody. I deserve it. Jeff Varner is a former American real estate agent and television personality who has worked as a news anchor and reporter, an entertainment reporter, and a contestant on three seasons of the CBS reality television series Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Cambodia, and Survivor: Game Changers. [7] 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. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. Zeke Smith Talks State of His Relationship With Jeff Varner - E! Online 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. I made a mistake. how to be an ally to the transgender community. He is 56 years old as of 16 April 2022. Jeff is the only contestant to be eliminated pre-jury on their first two seasons, and return for a third season. I wasn't in control in that moment. [1], Name: Jeff Varner I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. For the evening, all of the other tribemates ignored their alliances to chastise Varner and support Smith.