", Zeke Smith and Jeff Probst talk about Survivor's work with GLAAD, "GLAAD's philosophy is that authentic LGBTQ representation accelerates acceptance and saves lives" For more information about GLAAD's work, please visit glaad.org, 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. ', 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. Indeed. Its long been my desire for Jeff Probst to reward my mastery of lying and manipulation with $1 million dollars, healso told CBS. It was not my intention. If I set the tone, everyone would follow. I remember the smug smirk on his face and the gleam in his eye when he turned to me and snarled, Why havent you told anyone that youre transgender? I was free. Zeke Smith: I turned on Andrea Boehlke because we were friends years A month? As of the time of this writing, it has been a long time since Nico Santos and Zeke Smith have habitually posted images of themselves together on social media. [Survivor: Brooklyn] is where I met Andrea, about three years before we . As someone who is not readily perceived to be trans, I possess a great deal of privilege, both because I can control well, used to control who knows my gender history, and also because I dont experience the same type of discrimination, or even violence, that more visible trans people face especially trans women of color. During Game Changers, I regret how much I talked to Probst. That's when I saw the opening. 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. Zeke graduated from Harvard University with a degree in The Study of Religion. If anything needs cleaning, it gets cleaned with sand and saltwater. I thought of his family and his friends watching that moment I'm sad. I guess everybody knows about my hot little 25 year-old boyfriend now. I know that forgiveness is difficult. Better to have acquaintances than no one at all. Id chosen to test myself in a tremendously public way. Next: 'Survivor' Zeke Smith Speaks About His Public Outing And How The Show Dealt With It. I've got some wonderful people in my life that have helped me through this moment. Something primal deep inside me screamed: run. He and Hali Ford were both contestants on Survivor: Game Changers. Were I in the hands of a lesser leader, Im sure questions wouldve been peppered my way before I was ready to receive them. [Sobbing again.] Getty It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger. I'm A Celeb South Africa fans praise 'survivor-style' vote out as campmates choose who gets the chop . ', 'Harry Potter' Actress Evanna Lynch Weighs in on J.K. Rowling Backlash: 'Give Her More Grace', 'Harry Potter' Franchise Seemingly Introduces Its First Trans Character in New 'Diverse' Video Game, Who Is Sean McVay's Wife? Im your guy, I told Probst. And before he knew it, Zeke was filming the 34th season of the show as one of the 20 returning Game Changers., Survivor: Game Changers: Ozzy Lusth breaks all-time record for most days playing game, I remember walking into Tribal Council that night, Zeke recallsabout the night Varner outed him, which was shown to TV audienceson Wednesday, April 12. I sat up straight. Do Not Sell. I thought he deserved to know it would be his last day on the beach. Who comes on a reality show not once but twice with a secret like that and nobody knows? Though he was born and raised in Oklahoma City and currently resides in Los Angeles (where he is tremendously disappointed in the food), Zeke will always consider himself a New Yorker. And there were clues here and there throughout the whole thing. Survivorhad spun out of control. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. In his twenties, he performed with the Upright Citizens Brigade. You exit to the left, into the darkness, what I called The Abyss. Roger Duane "Zeke" Smith (September 29, 1936 - July 22, 2016) was an American football player in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants. It was like waking up in Westeros, Lord Zeke of the Mustache Lands, fighting to claim the Iron Throne. 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. But you cannot control the hazards you face, be they repeated misfortune or the harmful actions of others. Smith was famously outed as being transgender by tribemate Jeff Varner during Game Changers, but he told Entertainment Weekly he still doesnt regret going on the show. However, it is important to note that a couple no longer posting photos of themselves together on social media doesnt necessarily mean anything. While that certainly isnt proof that Smith and Santos are still together since they could still be friends after splitting, it makes it seem more likely they remain a couple. Voting out Sandra. I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. My chance to re-enter appeared an opportunity to provide clarification. 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. An odd sentiment, I realize, for someone who signed up for two seasons of the CBS reality giant, Survivor. Clearly, the stakes are not actually life and death. Why stop now? First off, Smith jokingly tweeted pretending that the rumor was that he had a 25-year-old boyfriend while tagging Santos. I feel for him and Ill do whatever I can in the future to help him if hell let me I feel like now the healing can begin, not only for me but hopefully for Zeke and hopefully for trans people across the world, said Varner at the time. I'm going home. He was known for being a Reality Star. In oneof the most emotional moments in Survivorhistory,Zeke Smith was outed as transgender in last nights episode by Jeff Varner, who felt that Zeke was using the secret to deceive his fellow castaways. The editing doesn't show that Ozzy when it was all said and done and I said, "I'm done. I don't want to go into this whole this, that and the other about how I knew because I don't think that's respectful, not only to Zeke but to other trans people. I thought Zeke was out and loud and proud. Theres no special dispensation for a traumatic Tribal. I didnt know what to say. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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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. Cameras would follow me, if not that night, then eventually. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. 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. Many gay people consider coming out a moment of liberation, because sharing their sexual orientation with the world causes them to be seen more authentically. My biggest concern was that if people knew, their opinion of me would change. That was, until it came to who was going home in season 34, episode five, titled "Vote Early . Survivor: Jeff Varner Fired From Job After Outing Zeke Smith - People My heart is open to him today and if he is reacting in any negative way I give him the space to do that I deserve that. They know my soul and they know that's not who I am. Im tough as nails. Wednesday's (April 12) episode of Survivor was dramatic and surprising for both . I just sat down and wrote it one day. He appeared on both Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X and Survivor: Game Changers. No phone call home. Name Popularity Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. He was eliminated on Day 33, but definitely made a huge impact on the game. Zeke Smith reflects on being outed as trans on 'Survivor' Forgiveness does not require forgetting or excusing his actions. If the pattern holds, it should be premiering its 41st season the third or fourth week of September 2021. Heres what he had to say. I had no expectation of how this was going to be a tool in the game. I suspected Zeke was transgender from the moment I saw him. This is about Zeke, Varner said. I went from someone who very few people knew to be trans to one of the most visible transgender men in the world (which says more about trans mens visibility than it does about me).