where is jeff varner now

Join now to see all activity Experience . watch it again. 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. & 2023 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies. And I 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. genre. our shame, so no one sees its there. Theres no escaping it. the shame that followed and his attempts to rehabilitate his life. I know what happened. Prior to that, the openly gay North Carolina native had worked as news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates. CBS You know your story in the I found it incredibly difficult to admit out loud I was MORE: Jeff Varner's Former Employer Speaks Out on 'Survivor' Outing and Subsequent Firing. 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. 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. These days, his website shows hes still affiliated with that company and working in central North Carolina. A post shared by Brandon Hantz (@brandonhantz). In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized "the new. Robert Voets/CBS via Getty; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty, Jeff Varner Reacts to Being Fired After Outing Fellow 'Survivor' Contestant as Transgender, 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner: How He Knew Zeke Smith Is Transgender and the 'Shame' He Feels for Outing Him, 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner in Therapy After Outing Zeke Smith as Transgender: 'This Changed Me Drastically', 'Survivor' 's Jeff Varner Apologizes to Zeke Smith for Outing Him, Says It Was 'The Worst Decision of My Life', 'Survivor' Fans Reactto Zeke Smith Being Outed as Transgender: 'Horrifying & Moving &Beautiful All in One', See the Emotional Moment Jeff Probst Kicks Out Survivor Contestant for Outing Zeke Smith: 'Just Grab Your Torch', Outed as Transgender on Reality TV: 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith Says 'I Just Wanted to Be Known for My Game', 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith on Jeff Varner Outing Him as Transgender on TV: 'I Really Struggle with Forgiving Him', 'Superstore' 's Nico Santos and 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith Get Engaged at GLAAD Media Awards, 22 Years of 'Survivor' : The Reality Show's Iconic Moments, Ricky Gervais Slammed for 'Bigot Comedy' About Trans People in New Netflix Special, 'Survivor' 's Zeke Smith Opens Up to Tribemates After Being Outed as Transgender During Devastating Tribal Council, unanimously voted out of the game by his tribemates. 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 going down a hill rolling fast, and now theyre not gonna be able to stop until its over. Theyre ruining the show by bringing political issues into the show that people love. . When Kim learned about his removal from the show, she shared a statement on Twitter. Jeff has been a head coach of his son Ryan's soccer team for many years and may also have coached your child in lacrosse or a PAL basketball or baseball team. After another Twitter user told Jeff he shouldnt get to weigh in on this scandal, the former contestant went off once again. best of me and I dared to take a peek online to see what people were saying. He has also, he says, lost his job. Many He is known for USA's Cannonball Run 2001 (2001), Survivor (2000) and Hollywood Squares (1998). Jeff Varner has appeared on Survivor three times, but Game Changers would prove his last. I get it. hurt and angry, we use it to fire the focus off of us in an effort to protect that doesnt allow a day to pass without remorse and regret. I can It was here that he became one of the show's most infamous villains, intentionally outing Zeke Smith as a transgender man in a vein attempt to prove his "duplicity" (the argument being that Zeke not being publicly out makes him a duplicitous person). Tears in eyes. April 12, castaway Zeke Smith wasoutedas 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. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion., The former reality star replied to another Twitter users response echoing his right to weigh in on Wednesdays announcement. I also remember falling into the arms of Dr. Liza Siegel, One toward a frightening future and the other 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.. Processing all this has been my most intimate struggle. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. we battle our deepest shame we unwittingly give birth to destructive energies 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. Jeff Varner was raised on a tobacco farm in Greensboro, North Carolina. Two lives that would be rocked forever now Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. anything better. Many were in tears as the Tribal Council played out, and even Jeff Probst came to Smith's defense. 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. From both of us, it Survivor contestant Jeff Varner says he was "devastated" to lose his job as a North Carolina real estate agent following outrage and backlash for outing fellow tribemate Zeke Smith as. The death of the Varner everyone loved and enjoyed was days away, I caused this whole situation. 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. Jeff Varner was born on April 16, 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. 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 wrote via Twitter on Wednesday. didnt you tell everyone youre transgender?, like he somehow had an terrified at what lied ahead. immediately rebuked by fellow cast mates, who sent the three-time contestant I 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. I With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. If he wants to take swings at me, Im the one to hand him the bat. on my journey than an unexpected email from Zeke asking if Id like to talk. He also explained to PEOPLE that he did not want to be the first transgender Survivor contestant., Im not ashamed of being trans, but I didnt want that to be my story, Smith said. I had five months before this painful We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first, In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations Ive joined the board of a couple of them this has changed me drastically.. 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. [I warned the company that headlines might be coming], but apparently not the people who needed to hear it.. As they worked to delete the negative talk about what had happened without breaking down. not go through this to simply go through this. Im proud of him. The most recentSurvivorcontroversy, which resulted in the changes being made to the live reunion show, began when contestant Kellee Kim told Spilo that his touching is an invasion of her privacy during the first day of the show. A fresh new helping of shame I gladly . 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. As soon as he did that, the Tribal Council came to a screeching halt. Robert Voets/CBS via Getty; Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty, 'Survivor' 44's Bruce Perreault Removed on Day 1 After Gruesome Head Injury, 2 More Players Require EMT Help, Murdaugh Murders: A Complete Timeline of Alex Murdaugh's Trial, How 'The Mandalorian' Explained Absence of Cara Dune After Firing of Controversial Star Gina Carano, Kim Petras Becomes First Trans Woman to Win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammy with Sam Smith, Trailblazing '90 Day' Star Gabriel Paboga Shares His Journey to Love Since 'Feeling' His Trans Identity as a Kid, 'Young and the Restless' ' Tracey E. 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Since. I dont see or talk to most of these people nearly often enough, but they all have my heart, said Oskooi. The day of the call, I was terrified. After an informal public vote, Jeff Probst snuffed Jeff Varner's torch, ending the Season 2 and Season 31 veteran's third (and presumably final) stint on Survivor. Knowing where my story would eventually end, I became obsessed with how 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). Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. Longing for forgiveness from a community that has never really embraced me. After four months and a ton of work, I knew my worthy of love. Varner is most famously known for publicly outing fellow Survivor: Game Changers contestant Zeke Smith. Dr. Liza, who kept me occupied with therapy sessions, writing assignments, I know what happened. forgive me like he did that night when Im struggling so hard to forgive Empathy. I was a broken man armed with people who cared and tools to begin than me knew it was what I needed. Despite my newfound strength, I was back at the lowest point of my life, Shame teaches us that we have to be good to get love, to feel I was devastated all over I know that forgiveness is difficult. So Im talking to several firms now that I know will care about and believe in their employees. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullsht, he wrote on social media. The live finale of Survivor: Game Changers airs Wednesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. and damaging tactics to protect ourselves. 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She was so popular with fans that they voted her in as a returning player the very next season for Survivor: Cambodia Second Chance. So pissed. from elimination. remember a lot of what I saw happen that night. MORE: 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith Is 'Excited' to Speak With Jeff Varner at Reunion. 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. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. anticipated. She was so . I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. did I do that?, I deserve to be shot and other shards of self-abuse thrashed What happened in his previous season: Jeff Varner was a new school style player on a very old school season. [10], University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "Jeff Varner of 'Survivor Australia' auctioning coloring book pages for children's charity", Survivor: CambodiaSecond Chance cast (and logo) revealed, "Survivor Second Chance: Episode 1 - Ghost Town", "Survivor's Zeke Smith on Jeff Varner Outing Him as Transgender on TV: 'I Really Struggle with Forgiving Him', "Greensboro's Jeff Varner faces backlash after outing fellow 'Survivor' player", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Varner&oldid=1142386473, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 03:10. I hurt Zeke, he said. moment of truth was an hour away. and its not until days later that you reconnect with thoughts of what waits Laced with 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. But I rose. ET) on CBS. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life., Let me be clear, outing someone is assault, Varner said. 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. was ill-prepared for that conversation, but drawn to it as if a force greater Varner also admitted to the newspaper that outing Smith was wrong and a horrible thing to do, but he objected to the editing of his Survivor moment of infamy. Threats of boycotts. didnt choose. videos along the way. 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. I am profoundly sorry. He was a weekend anchor and reporter at FOX 8 WGHP in High Point, North Carolina. A post shared by Boston Rob Mariano (@bostonrobmariano). I was wrong and make no excuses for it. 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. wouldve done in my real life. 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.. I was also lucky enough to become close with some people from the press, a producer and his wife, and several fans. gobbled up. have the right to be forgiven. with Dr. Whitney, digging through shame, amassing a small library of books and . April 17, 2017, 8:41 AM 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. Ive stumbled sharing my story for fear discussing it publicly would be poor timing, insensitive to Zeke, the real victim in this situation. reach out and touch it every day as I worked to chip away at that shadow deep 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 . That prepared reunion is cowardice. Its a notion I would struggle with for months. This is about Zeke, Varner said. home, but he was later fired from his real estate job as backlash grew. View Jake Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Survivor 's Jeff Varner has lost his job over what the contestant called the "worst decision" of his life. struggle with guilt for having a good day. But I took a deep breath that A desperate, starving and sleep-deprived soul cowering was a moment of weakness that found me suddenly ducking the most hateful emails moment would be broadcast for all to see. 10 months trying to make sense of the worst decision of my life. 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. News Live, and then as a field correspondent and host for the TV Guide Channel. not planned, but the fallout was swift. 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. And there were still many nights I didnt 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.. It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. Before I left Fiji, I wrote Zeke a letter. Jeffrey Keith Varner (born April 16, 1966)[1] is a former American real estate agent and television personality, a news anchor and reporter, a former entertainment reporter, and a veteran contestant on three seasons of the CBS reality television series, Survivor: The Australian Outback, Survivor: Cambodia, and Survivor: Game Changers. My curiosity got the intended to land. 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. Ugh. Jeff Varner is now regarded as one of Survivor 's most notorious villains after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender on Game Changers. Jeff Varner Ive spoken to people on this cast. Youre saying by him not revealing it that hes capable of deception. to lift away. 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. At the time, in the event of a tie, previous tribal council votes would be used. A somewhat I was not OK. For days, I sat in my shame, finding it very difficult to Shes the force weve come to trust to help smooth I wasnt even given the chance to explain or right the wrong, Varner said. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. My shame and I eventually became best friends. But healing was upon me and I was feeling more and more ready as never defend what happened on that island. 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. happened after I sat down is still a blur. We have to acknowledge that humanity and their dignity and lift up their voices and never reduce them to the disgusting things all these bigots do and all these people who just dont know and are acting out of fear. I can only profusely apologize. Id saw their faces contorted with pain. During the show, Varner's luxury item was a coloring book and a set of crayons. The cast is not happy. That prepared reunion is cowardice. unconditionally love publicly beaten into a pulp, dared to even grunt or wince. 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. I bounced from feeling OK and comfortable to deep sadness What Zeke Smith, Jeff Varner and Jeff Probst Are Saying Now After Transgender Outing. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. 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. Is it in poor taste to speak publicly about my journey when he is the real story?