I am forever grateful that Probst gave me time to collect myself. Most were supportive in theory, but distanced themselves, unsure and a little weirded out by the process. I don't know why. Im not wild about you knowing that Im trans. 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. $69.99 at Best Buy $69.99 at GameStop $70.99 at NewEgg. While my peers in Oklahoma were content to follow the path set for them, I forged my own, leaping from boulder to boulder with no regard for what was expected of me. READ NEXT: One Survivor Alum Has an Epic Idea For a Legends Season, Zeke Smith Reflects On How Jeff Probst & Survivor Handled His Transgender Outing, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. In an interview with Variety, Santos said that they were quarantining together during the pandemic and he is so grateful to have found Smith. Its awful. Its long been my desire for Jeff Probst to reward my mastery of lying and manipulation with $1 million dollars, healso told CBS. Name Popularity Related Names Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. In the seventh episode of CBS Survivor: Game Changers, castaway Zeke Smith returning for his second appearance in two seasons was outed by a fellow contestant as transgender. Updated Aug 22, 2021 at 11:09am. I'm going home. I solved puzzles and tied and untied knots. At the conclusion of Tribal, Jeff Varners torch was snuffed. Varner told Entertainment Tonight at the time that he was so sorry for what he did to Smith and wanted to make it right if he could. Now, through tears, Varner, 50, speaks to PEOPLE about the events leading up to the outing, the "shame" he's been coping with since the event and what good he hopes will come from the "horrible" situation. Of course, money isnt the only thing that matters which is why a lot of people are interested in the love lives of their favorite former Survivor players. That was my messed-up thinking at the time. From here on in, I shoot with this girl on my hip. Zeke from 'Survivor: Game Changers' on living with the legacy of Russell Hantz. He appeared on both Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X and Survivor: Game Changers. 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. Entry updated July 2, 2008. Zeke graduated from Harvard University with a degree in The Study of Religion. While he was technically a Millennial, he admitted in his interview and multiple times throughout the season that he never felt like one.. It's hard to have lived through that two-hour tribal and have it condensed to 20 minutes and see how moments were cut out and connected. In proclaiming Zeke is not the guy you think he is and that there is deception on levels yall dont understand,Varner is saying that Im not really a man and that simply living as my authentic self is a nefarious trick. Was Camille Lamb's Below Deck Salary Worth The Endless Drama She Endured On The Show? There have been many moments shown, especially within recent seasons, that go beyond the game. 5. I knew part of the reason I was brought back is that Probst liked the way I talked about the game, and the expectation was that I would continue to deliver. However, once those same two people have been together for a long time, they may not feel the need to post about their relationship all of the time anymore. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. Celebrity Engagements of 2022: Stars Who Got Engaged. I knew that Varners actions, though targeted at me, had nothing to do with me and everything to do with him. He is most well-known for his innovative gamesmanship and witty storytelling on Survivor: Millennials vs GenX and Survivor: Game Changers. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. Zeke, now 29, revealed in a new interview that during the April 12 episode taping, a contestant (we found out on the episode that it was Jeff Varner)on the show outed him. I lost many from my life when I transitioned. I knew Id conquer whatever the game might throw at me. Suddenly, I found myself drawn to engage in challenging social situations, run obstacle races and backpack the Grand Canyon. Ever since being on the show together,Hannah Shapiro and Zeke are seriously BFFs. However, the structures sturdiness needed to be tested, because until it was, I would never definitively know if I was the man I believed myself to be. Why did you choose to out Zeke at tribal council? The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I know that forgiveness is difficult. Often, the opposite is true for trans people. I needed to calm everyone down. That reasoning is infinitely worse than him outing me because its the same one used to discriminate against, attack and murder trans people. I have hope for Jeff Varner. He is also a creative consultant on and contributor to the Netflix documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen. You don't see all of that and I understand why you don't, I'm not complaining about the editing at all, but that's what my thinking was: there was no thinking. This was Varners third shot and likely his last. In the following exclusive column for The Hollywood Reporter, Zeke one of very few players in show history to compete on back-to-back seasons shares hisside of the journey, his experience as a trans man, the reasons why he pursued Survivor, the thrill of that adventure, and what it was like on the night he was outed on national television and how he powered through it. There is no why. Beyond his charm and charisma, I thought I recognized a deep-seated insecurity and self-loathing, a glimpse at who I could become were I not careful. Have you spoken to Zeke at all since that tribal council? My heart broke for him. But he wasnt going to. ', Amber Riley Says She 'Didn't Really Know Where I Stood' on 'The Masked Singer' Before Winning, Jennifer Hudson on Her Talk Show, EGOT Win and Facing Fears Head On: 'You Will Always See Me Try', Jeff Varner outed his tribemate, Zeke Smith, as transgender, posted an apology on Twitter after the episode aired. He began a relationship with fellow Survivor personality Hannah Shapiro. I've talked to Zeke on the phone several times and that's been really helpful and healthy. 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'd later come out and began dating actorNico Santos. Its one thing to lie about someone sneaking off at night to search for hidden advantages. Smith said that he was very scared of being looked to as a role model for the trans community because he wasnt sure he was up to the challenge., But Im very proud of what we were able to do, he added. Later in the same interview, Nico Santos was asked about the possibility of Zeke Smith proposing to him and he said, Im here for it if that happens. I spoke as calmly as I possibly could. The other contestants erupted in outrage, calling. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. In 2018, he was on hand to accept the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program on behalf of Survivor: Game Changers, saying in his speech how important representation is on TV. In one of the most emotional moments in "Survivor" history, Zeke Smith was outed as transgender in last night's episode by Jeff Varner, who felt that Zeke was using the secret to deceive his. Smith said it was terrifying to think about being aired on national television, but host Jeff Probst stepped up and reassured him that the show would handle it respectfully. My left leg settled and with it the group. I love him. During the Survivor's show, he got distracted after seeing his father. Hope that he understands the injury he caused and does not inflict it upon others. The cameras, though 30 feet away, suddenly felt inches from my face. I am NOT, I repeat, NOT25! Later it would become known that Santos and Smith met when they both were at an after-party for the GLAAD Media Awards and from there they were inseparable. No phone call home. I listened to Hamilton. Until one day I realized that if the somedays didnt start becoming todays, Id run out of days. [regarding the secret alliance.] 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. People think trans people are out there deceiving and theyre predators and theyre hiding in bathrooms and stuff thats just not true. And there were clues here and there throughout the whole thing. I cant foresee us sipping martinis together in Fire Island. ), 'We're Here' Drag Star Eureka O'Hara Comes Out as Trans: 'I Know Who I Am Without Question', Vicky Krieps on Embracing Her Inner Rebel for 'Corsage' : 'I Always Had Trouble Fitting In', Kim Petras on Finding Success After Being Told She'd 'Never Make It': 'Look at Me Now, Bitches! February 21, 2017, 12:00 PM. It was from my heart and as genuine as it could possibly be. Strategically, I initially found myself the low man on the totem pole. Zeke has not always gone after his dreams. For that reason, some people have concluded that they may have gone their separate way. Then, a single word appeared, the word I couldnt find earlier in the day, the word that encapsulated my 50-plus days on the island: metamorphosis. You can continue to update and change your forecasts throughout the week, just click Save when youve settled on your choices. If the pattern holds, it should be premiering its 41st season the third or fourth week of September 2021. Id made such a believer out of Probst that my second shot came immediately, which meant that I was every bit the player Id dreamed Id be. None of which were ventures Id have chosen earlier in my life. I'm A Celeb South Africa fans praise 'survivor-style' vote out as campmates choose who gets the chop . What if that person told other people? However, it is important to note that a couple no longer posting photos of themselves together on social media doesnt necessarily mean anything. He was very engaging, gifted in his ability to manipulate with his words, and he wore this crazy Hawaiian shirt and had poofy hair, said Probst, adding, We knew Zeke was a tremendous storyteller with an amazing ability to take a specific moment from the game or life and give it a universal perspective. Survivor player Jeff Varner lost a lot more than the show's $1 million dollar prize when he made the decision to out fellow tribemate Zeke Smith as . We make easy targets. So I held them at arms length. I wanted the jury for him. Hes BFFs with Hannah from season 33. I just wanted to be known for my game., FROM COINAGE: Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Buy A Home. I faked confidence, hoping that when the day finally came to be dropped on a beach and meet the dashingly dimpled host and executive producer, Jeff Probst, Id finally believe it. "There was a new commander, and he'd been called in to see . Now, another contestant has taken that choice away. Theres no toilet paper. Varner and I connected quickly. On a recent episode of For Real: The Story of Reality TV on E!, Smith reflected on his experience with Survivor and how the show and host Jeff Probst handled his situation. He did admit that when he returned from the show, he felt his outing hanging over him like a time bomb because he knew his life was about to radically change as soon as the season aired and for a while, he didnt know when it was going to happen because he didnt know the airdate of that particular episode. I had no expectation of how this was going to be a tool in the game. I still to this day don't know why. Everything clicked. Zeke Smith surprised boyfriend Nico Santos at the GLAAD Media Awards where they first met four years earlier with a romantic proposal. By Zeke Smith. Thatand the time he was outed as transgender. I hurt Zeke and that's something that I'll never get over. I leapt fueled solely by my belief in myself, because, well, nobody liked me very much. Were I in the hands of a lesser leader, Im sure questions wouldve been peppered my way before I was ready to receive them. He played college football at Auburn University where he was awarded the Outland Trophy in 1958. Youll compete to win bragging rights and a place of honor on our leaderboard. I saw a pain, a brokenness in his eyes that felt all too familiar a longing for the spotlight, but a desire to remain unseen. I was initially drawn to play in order to prove myself a cunning strategist worthy of a rare and highly coveted chance to one day return to the game. While he wastechnically a Millennial, he admitted in his interview and multiple times throughout the season that he never felt like one. And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. What was appropriate? He recently reflected on that experience. I didn't have any expectations of how people would react. Do Not Sell. Hope that whatever torments his soul will plague him no more. Gold Derby readers just like YOU often turn out to be our smartest prognosticators, so its important that you give us your predictions. I told myself, Dude, you resolved to never stop playing. I excelled in challenges, proving myself adept in the water and a master at puzzles. Was Tamra Judge Ever Friends With Teresa Giudice Before Their Brutal Fight On Real Housewives Of Orange County? Now I could just play. Zeke Smith regrets being Probst's "pet. On top of that, the fact that there have never been any rumors about Santos and Smith going their separate ways makes it probable that they are still happy together. No chocolate chip cookies. ', Zeke Smith accepts GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program, At GLAAD's Rising Stars Luncheon at the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York on May 4th, Zeke Smith accepted the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program on behalf of Survivor: Game Changers, and delivered inspirational remarks to an audience of LGBTQ young people and influencers. And I just hope that those kinds of conversations are happening all over the country. I looked to Varner, now the one hunched and quivering, and contemplated the backlash he would face. Zeke Smith has appeared on Survivor: Game Changers twice in two seasons, but he's now making headlines for reasons he's not happy about. Honestly, I held the world at arms length. There is no deception." A persons gender history is private information and it is up to them, and only them, when, how, and to whom they choose to disclose that information, Zeke says in his own words. His terrible utteranceswere not an effect of my actions, but a reflection of his own personal maladies. In the wake of his outing, Zeke led a partnership of Survivor, CBS, and GLAAD to craft a response which would provoke a global conversation about privacy and respect. I think the editing was good. If the first chapter of the Zeke book of my life is about rebuilding from failure, I was well rebuilt. From there, however, Santos poured water on the idea of getting engaged so early but he still seemed very open to the idea at some point. Getty Zeke Smith attends Rising Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards on May 4, 2018 at the New York Hilton. After Nico Santos and Zeke Smith confirmed their relationship, there was a Superstore Academy For Your Consideration Event that was held in March of 2019. My mind revved back up to full speed. For example, the shows fans want to know which Survivor couples have stayed together and which ones have split up. People think trans people are out there deceiving and they're predators and they're hiding in bathrooms and stuff that's just not true. Why stop now? The first night we huddled together in the mud as the Fijian skies dumped buckets of rain upon us. He continually forgives me. In our Survivor predictions center, you get to answer the following questions before each episode airs on CBS every Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. I thought that the viewers knew and everybody knew. I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.. The rest of the tribe exits to the right, back to camp with a renewed lease on life. Our tribe proved unable to unscramble a word, metamorphosis, losing the Immunity Challenge and sending us to Tribal Council. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. All Rights Reserved. We both love food, so well either go to our go-to restaurants or find a new place, we also love finding new places to eat, or hell cook. Debbie, the Woman with an Infinite Number of Jobs, told me about all of her jobs. Something primal deep inside me screamed: run. So when I was arguing at tribal and I say "I thought everybody knew," I was talking about everybody at home watching. To see Smith in the pages of PEOPLE, pick up the latest issue of the magazine, on newsstands now. An obsession with "BIG MOVEZ" and how it's "how Survivor SHOULD be played" I can't . Even if he feels the need to for whatever reason to do it at my expense. We're attacked a lot and I expected a lot more from Varner," Smith, 29, has told PEOPLE exclusively. Jeff Probst looked me square in the eyes and snuffed my torch, extinguishing my life in the game. At 28, Zeke joined Survivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X. In mid-2018, there started to be rumblings on the celebrity rumor websites claiming that Survivor's Zeke Smith and Superstore's Nico Santos had become a couple. Zeke Smith attends Rising Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards on May 4, 2018 at the New York Hilton. Here are some of facts to know about Survivor contestant, Zeke Smith. Here is what he had to say. If anything needs cleaning, it gets cleaned with sand and saltwater. It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. I was invited back immediately for an all-star season, during the course of which I was maliciously outed by a former local network news anchor. We say things we dont mean. Zeke always dreamed of playingSurvivor. Running was not an option. Even those who arent outwardly hateful crinkle their noses at you. But they know me and they know my heart. The reason for that is at that time both of them had been sharing images on Instagram of the two of them together. I remember the smell of the kerosene in our torches. Deep into the 39-day adventure, players reach a crossroads where they must decide between starving or eating a handful of coconut and enduring severe gastrointestinal distress. Name Popularity Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. Zeke Origin and Meaning The name Zeke is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God strengthens". I just wanted to go out on an adventure and play a great game. Powered by. In high school, he proved a championship policy debater. See, when I got on a plane to Fiji last March, I expected to get voted out third. Zeke Varner talks to Zeke, Survivors Jeff Probst Reveals How He Spent Quarantine. One member of the tribe must be sacrificed each visit. You never want a player to know theyre going home, because they might get desperate and go nuclear, douse the fire or pour out the rice.
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