Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. But instead of flying dragons with Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, I trailed Ozzy, Master of Spear Fishing, out to the reef, dove down and watched him catch fish. Survivor is back in production now. Zeke Smith regrets being Probst's "pet. This was Varners third shot and likely his last. I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.. He spends most his time writing half-hour and feature comedy scripts (holler at him for samples staff me up! I couldnt believe how well I was doing. Voting out Sandra. Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. ET. The results of the test wouldnt be discreetly mailed back to me; theyd be broadcast to the entire world. He has all those qualities. But my heart overrode my head when I sat down with him that afternoon. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. You exit to the left, into the darkness, what I called The Abyss. I cant foresee us sipping martinis together in Fire Island. Zeke has commented on this himself before. We just moved in together a few months ago and we were kinda like, Is it too soon to move in together? But it felt really right and we love it. After graduating and moving to New York, no one knew me or saw me as anything other than Zeke, which was tremendously liberating my whole life, I desired my manhood to be known without question or qualification. I love him. Here are some of facts to know about Survivor contestant, Zeke Smith. After 34 seasons, Survivor is far from the cute little social experiment it began as in the summer of 2000. Until one day I realized that if the somedays didnt start becoming todays, Id run out of days. 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. ', 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. Forgiveness requires hope. Why did you choose to out Zeke at tribal council? Transitioning created the opportunity to remake myself to really consider and construct the man I wanted to be. Keeping your gender history private is not the same as a gay person being in the closet. The only people who need to know are medical professionals and naked fun time friends. 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. Now thatZekes truth has been revealedto the world, the Survivor: Game Changers castawayhas broken his silence inthe Hollywood Reporter. All sound faded. He played college football at Auburn University where he was awarded the Outland Trophy in 1958. Zeke Smith didn't want to be known as the "first transgender Survivor star.". He's just so smart and so well-spoken and I have no doubt he will turn this into a beautiful thing. So when I go back to camp and am talking to everyone about deception, I wasn't thinking at all about trans. He'd later come out and began dating actorNico Santos. So I woke up every morning and told myself I would win. We didn't have the luxury of watching his first season. Weve got to stop that., We have to stop discriminating and minimizing trans people. Players ask each other: Which one of us do we kill tonight? My prowess became undeniable and, as is the fate of most who are considered the leading threat to win, I was voted out. 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. 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. LGBTQ visibility on television matters because for many it is the only chance to glimpse their future. Something primal deep inside me screamed: run. 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. I lost control of my body, my legs bounced up and down uncontrollably, willing me to flee, but the rest of me sat dead as stone. So significant was the experience that I remember where I watched episode one of Survivor: Cook Islands; I remember the date, May 2, 2010; I remember distinctly Jeff Probsts opening line, You are watching 20 Americans begin an adventure that will forever change their lives. I was hooked. I listened to Hamilton. They go to bed at 9pm. One of the most shocking and heartbreaking personal moments happened on Survivor: Game Changers, when Zeke Smith was outed publicly by his tribemate.No one saw this moment coming, and it has changed the course for . Survivorhad spun out of control. It's not like I have anything against him as a person, he seems like a super nice guy outside of the show but he just represents everything that I HATE about modern Survivor. As the tears began flowing and host Jeff Probst looked gobsmacked, Varner was eventually eliminated by aunanimous verbal vote. 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. Indeed. 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. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. To my left was The Abyss. Smith has also found love with one of the stars of Superstore, Nico Santos. According to what Nico had to say at that time, Santos' relationship with Smith had already hit a major milestone. Im so grateful and thankful that hes here with me. I honestly probably wouldnt have survived these past few weeks without him, said Santos, who lost his stepfather to COVID in early 2020. But, despite all its deprivations, your Survivor life can be superior to your regular life. After 18 days starving and competing with me, they knew exactly the man I am, and after that Tribal Council, we all knew exactly the man Varner is., Join the live Survivor debate going on right now in our world-famous forums. I deserve it. This is how 'Survivor' star Zeke Smith met 'Superstore's' Nico Santos and where their relationship stands in 2022. Oz characters, short forms, Survivor greats, The West Wing characters, Xeno characters. You make it up as you go along, and I struggled with finding the right time to disclose my gender history to those close to me. Zeke has not always gone after his dreams. Sarah and I spoke last night about the growth in her world. It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger. I loved it. But I went to be challenged. I think they did a good job with what they had to work with, but it's just very difficult. These Married At First Sight Couples Shocked Fans By Staying Together On Decision Day Despite Knowing They'd Break Up. I lifted weights in the morning, swam at night, and in between acclimated to the heat in the sauna while reading books on mental toughness techniques utilized by endurance athletes. Playing with rookies was one thing, but playing alongside my Survivor heroes in a season called Survivor: Game Changers was quite another. 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 knew it was the right thing to say and the right thing to do. It was from my heart and as genuine as it could possibly be. Robert Voets/CBS. , Varner said he will never get over what he did. I sat up straight. 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. Its up to you to decide whether the hazard will define you or you will define the hazard. He was outed as transgender during season 34. I just wanted to go outon an adventure and play a great game.. 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. Just as I dont believe conservative politicians who attack trans people actually care where we use the bathroom. When I came home, I immediately went to my trans friends and I sat them down and I said, "Here's what I did. I began connecting with others in a meaningful way around the same time that my being trans stopped being a readily known fact about me. So I held them at arms length. When he pulled me in for a hug, I felt compelled to reciprocate, both as a sign that I was willing to forgive him and that the shots he had fired missed. I am profoundly sorry. Hollywood Life I could not have responded in the manner in which I did had he not held the wheel while I got my bearings. Watch PEN Fan Forum: Survivor, on the new PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN) here, or download the free app on your Smart TV, mobile and web devices. If anything needs cleaning, it gets cleaned with sand and saltwater. I remember walking into Tribal Council that night. Zeke Smith surprised boyfriend Nico Santos at the GLAAD Media Awards where they first met four years earlier with a romantic proposal. I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. But he wasnt going to. Zeke Smith, who appeared on back-to-back seasons of the reality series, was revealed to be a transgender man by fellow contestant Jeff Varner in an episode that aired Wednesday night. Binky Felstead finally reveals her newborn son's sweet name two weeks after giving birth to . Growing up in London, Ontario, Canada, Matthew developed a love for storytelling that he loves to share with others through his writing. The double whammy of major depression and transitioning blasted away my confidence. And to see that it is very bright.. A month? My biggest concern was that if people knew, their opinion of me would change. Powered by, One 'Survivor' castaway reveals his biggest regret from the game, which is that Jeff Probst was so fond of him. Its too soon. What Santos had to say next made it clear that he was extremely happy to be involved with Smith. An obsession with "BIG MOVEZ" and how it's "how Survivor SHOULD be played" I can't . . 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. Zeke Smith Reality Star Birthday January 25, 1988 Birth Sign Aquarius Birthplace Brooklyn , NY Age 35 years old #69636 Most Popular Boost About Asset manager from New York who became a national name as a reality television contestant on the long-running series Survivor in 2017. It's awful. Name Popularity Related Names Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. They are humans. I cannot think of a time in my life when I was happier, more fulfilled and more at peace with myself. When we share our gender history, many see us less authentically doubting, probing or denying our identities. Events in his life back home drew him to seek an understanding of gay peoples place in Christianity. A month? Survivor player Jeff Varner was fired from his job as a real estate agent at Allen Tate Realtors on Thursday due to backlash from an episode of the CBS show in which he outed fellow player Zeke Smith as transgender. I wanted the jury for him. 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. I gave up caffeine and booze. Do Not Sell. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. Just opening yourself up and being honest and genuine helps wash that shame away and it's just been so beneficial to me. My chance to re-enter appeared an opportunity to provide clarification. Put under Survivors high stakes, I got out of my own way and allowed myself to be the man I always hoped I would be. She called me right before tribal. Survivor: 10 Winners That Have 'Made It' The Biggest Since Their Season, Santos and Smith took to Twitter to confirm their relationship, 10 Real Life Partners Of The Cast Of NBC's 'Superstore', Santos and Smith met when they both were at an after-party for the GLAAD Media Awards, Santos' relationship with Smith had already hit a major milestone, These Hollywood Couples Got Engaged, But Never Got Married, 'Survivor' Zeke Smith Speaks About His Public Outing And How The Show Dealt With It. I couldve made a clean break for it, but I knew there was no running from what had happened. Name Popularity Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. I told myself, Dude, you resolved to never stop playing. Some are . Theres no one whose journey resonated with me more than former local network news anchor Jeff Varner. During Game Changers, I regret how much I talked to Probst. Varner, who. There was no plot, no plan, no anything. Shooting survivor Wilson Garcia looks up to the sky during a vigil on Sunday, April 30, 2023. They go to bed at 9pm. News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' 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. Since his appearance on Survivor: Game Changers in 2017, Smith has taken his outing and used it as a platform. Perhaps the coolest thing about the people whove played Survivor is that some of them have very different life stories. I think the editing was good. I impressed the hell out of myself. 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 excelled in challenges, proving myself adept in the water and a master at puzzles. I didnt know what to say. Zeke has not always gone after his dreams. To see Smith in the pages of PEOPLE, pick up the latest issue of the magazine, on newsstands now. 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 don't know and are acting out of fear. He was known for being a Reality Star. He reveals, Ididnt discuss my trans status in my initial video because I wanted the show to desire me as a game player and an eccentric storyteller, not as The First Trans Survivor Player. They did. 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. Even Probst, the most neutral of arbiters, had my back. 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. However, it is important to note that a couple no longer posting photos of themselves together on social media doesnt necessarily mean anything. All Rights Reserved. What has the reaction been from other Survivor contestants? I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. Zarchy was . In his youth, Zeke dabbled in musical theater. Sarah explained to me that her family would probably have reacted the way a lot of hateful people in the world react just because of where she's from and what they're in the middle of. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. Entry updated July 2, 2008. I love Zeke so much. And it is in that same spirit of ridiculousness that I honestly tell you I would not change a single element of the story Im about to relay, for I loved my adventure and cannot wait to embark upon the next. 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. First off, Smith jokingly tweeted pretending that the rumor was that he had a 25-year-old boyfriend while tagging Santos. It appears, from social media postings, that Varner had just began working for the company having only posted his first acting listing with the company on April 7. Adaptation of U.K. Late Night Show Mock the Week for Amazon Freevee, Donald Trump to Return to CNN for Primetime Town Hall Event, Gay U.S. Marine Drama From Norman Lear a Go at Netflix, TV Premiere Dates 2022: The Complete Guide, Broadcast TV Unscripted Scorecard 2022: Whats New, Renewed and Canceled, TV Pilots 2022: The Complete Broadcast Guide, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. [Editor note: Season 34 began filming before season 33 aired.] See, when I got on a plane to Fiji last March, I expected to get voted out third. Before my outing aired, if you were to Google trans person is outed, like the first 100 results are all news stories of trans people who had killed themselves after being outed. 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. 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. I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. I thought of his family and his friends watching that moment I'm sad. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. All About Veronika Khomyn, Christina Hall's Husband Josh Reveals He Was a Police Officer for 16 Years Before Being Injured in Line of Duty, 'We're Here' Drag Star Eureka O'Hara Comes Out as Trans: 'I Know Who I Am Without Question', Ricky Gervais Slammed for 'Bigot Comedy' About Trans People in New Netflix Special, unanimously voted out of the game by his tribemates. Id chosen to test myself in a tremendously public way. He thinks he 100 percent has what it takes to win. 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. "Trans people are a highly vulnerable population. Survivor player Jeff Varner lost a lot more than the shows $1 million dollar prize when he made the decision to out fellow tribemate Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to paint him as deceitful on Wednesdays episode of the CBS reality competition. During that event, US Weekly interviewed Santos and asked him about his relationship with Smith. But, the harsh elements merely play backdrop to a complex game of social politics dominated by secret alliances, hidden advantages and each cutthroat players ability to befriend and betray any who stand in their way. Hes been on two seasons of Survivor. None of which were ventures Id have chosen earlier in my life. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Let's just be friends and chat and tell me what's going on" he opened up and shared with me that he was in a secret alliance with Andrea and Zeke. Hope that whatever torments his soul will plague him no more. Zeke Smith is a writer, comedian, activist, and former (emphasis on the former) reality television contestant. We're attacked a lot and I expected a lot more from Varner," Smith, 29, has told PEOPLE exclusively. But there was this pesky little voice in the back of my mind persistently whispering, Survivor,so I created these challenges quizzes, I suppose, to acquire the fortitude necessary to play the game. To his credit, Varner received some bad breaks during his first two seasons, and in Game Changers, bad luck befell him once again. I went on Survivor because my life had grown stagnant. But in calling me deceptive, Varner invoked one of the most odious stereotypes of transgender people, a stereotype that is often used as an excuse for violence and even murder. "But I think it's so great that you see his hateful tactics rebuffed with such amazing love and from such a diverse group that responds to him.". Growing up, I set big lofty goals Broadway, a high school debate championships, Harvard and pursued them doggedly. Youll compete to win bragging rights and a place of honor on our leaderboard. My rookie season, Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X, instantly proved challenging. 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. Getty 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. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Cameras would follow me, if not that night, then eventually. You don't see Zeke saying, "There is no deception. And emotionally it just came out. Coconut, by the way, is a natural laxative. He said: "GLAAD and Survivor have completely, One Survivor Alum Has an Epic Idea For a Legends Season. Zeke always dreamed of playingSurvivor. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. After 18 days starving and competing with me, they knew exactly the man I am, and after that Tribal Council, we all knew exactly the man Varner is. Forgiveness does not require forgetting or excusing his actions. Zeke Varner talks to Zeke, Survivors Jeff Probst Reveals How He Spent Quarantine. I leapt fearlessly, until I crashed. My gut would tell me to fill someone in, but then panic would wash over me. By Zeke Smith. Ironically, out of all the people at that tribal, Sarah and Debbie have been the most supportive by reaching out. First-and-foremost, Zeke is a comedy writer. The failure I experienced made me doubt everything I once believed to be true about myself. I applied. Gold Derby readers just like YOU often turn out to be our smartest prognosticators, so its important that you give us your predictions. 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 was desperate and I was looking for a way out. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. I think I was very clear to the producers who knew I was questioning Zeke's gender that it wasn't something that was relevant in the game. There is no deception." Zeke Smith was outed as transgender by fellow contestant Jeff Varner in a shocking episode of Survivor: Game Changers on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. 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. On February 17th, 2022, GLAAD tweeted asking their followers to give them feedback. With the shows therapist, with a local therapist. I knew the six people in front of us didn't know and so it just when it dawned on me that nobody knew at home and he's not out and that I am the reason he is now out, I just came unglued. Survivor airs on Wednesdays at 8PM on CBS. During the Survivor's show, he got distracted after seeing his father. I guess everybody knows about my hot little 25 year-old boyfriend now. You can continue to update and change your forecasts throughout the week, just click Save when youve settled on your choices. I still to this day don't know why. No phone call home. While he was technically a Millennial, he admitted in his interview and multiple times throughout the season that he never felt like one.. Related: 10 Real Life Partners Of The Cast Of NBC's 'Superstore'. If I set the tone, everyone would follow. I don't even really remember a lot of it. "One of my favorite stories is of a trans guy in the Air Force," explains Zeke. He clearly didn't find it necessary . Though Varner has been openly gay for many years, he chose not to discuss his sexual orientation during his first two stints on the show. That's when I saw the opening. I mulled over all the scenarios to save him, but each required me to significantly jeopardize my position. 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. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. I didn't have any expectations of how people would react. 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. Hes just, I dont know. But now her family is sitting down and they are talking about it and they are sympathizing with trans people. Heres what he had to say. So I sat blank, almost in a trance, unaware of what happened around me, trying to form a plan. He admitted that he just cant help himself around Probst, he just could not stop talking I see those baby blues and those dimples, and my mouth just falls open.. 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I'm really angry at myself and I'm profusely sorry to everybody I offended, to Zeke, all the people out there who are hurting because of me. Get a closer look at the Season 34 contestants by clicking through our cast photo gallery. Debbie, the Woman with an Infinite Number of Jobs, told me about all of her jobs. What We Know About Zeke Smith and Nico Santos' Relationship . What was appropriate? Zeke is in my bottom 10 contestants to ever play. Better to have acquaintances than no one at all. I needed an adventure, a jolt to my system I needed to change my life and oh boy, did I! said Smith, adding, My outing and the attention it received, and the platform I gained radically changed my lifes trajectory.
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