Survivor 4/12 Spoilers

[notsopicky]

Thank you for posting that article. Zeke is a class act, for sure.

I am a teacher and I have a larger-than-average number of gender-fluid, gender-nonconforming, and transgender kids this year in my classes (I teach 7th and 8th grade). My hope is that they know that I see them, and that they see me as an ally. I am encouraged that these kids feel comfortable enough to share their personal journey and experience with me, that they are living their truth.

[sunnysally]

I should not have read that at work. I teared up. Zeke is an amazing human and man. His description of his journey of self discovery and acceptance is inspiring to every person who has struggled with who they are.

[katespade]

Did anyone see Varner's apology on Twitter? I'm not buying the part about, "I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew."

If he really thought everyone already knew, why would that information have been useful to "prove" his point and get them to turn on Zeke?

[Deleted]

I haven't watched yet, but I've seen spoilers everywhere so I do know what happened.

I am really disappointed that this happened to Zeke. I just hope that the ramifications in his personal life are not too bad. He doesn't deserve his personal business to be shared in a way he's not comfortable with.

I do get the impression that he gave CBS permission to air this, but even so I hope that he feels ok about a role in the trans community that he did not plan to take.

[sugarbear]

konapoppy, that was an excellent read. Thank you for posting it.

Has anyone found a record of discussion between the producers and Zeke? Do we know, or are we at least confident, that Zeke was ok with that episode? I can't imagine, after Probst's reaction, that they would televise that without Zeke's approval.

[sugarbear]

Apr 13, 2017 11:02:30 GMT -5 katespade said:

Did anyone see Varner's apology on Twitter? I'm not buying the part about, "I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew."

If he really thought everyone already knew, why would that information have been useful to "prove" his point and get them to turn on Zeke?

This is the argument Sarah brought up last night during tribal, which I was glad to hear. He couldn't talk himself out of it in the moment, and he's not having any more success now. Bummer, Varner.

[liverandonions]

That article was amazing. I've always liked Zeke, now I like him even more. Class act,

[rockpaperscissors]

I just listened to a radio interview with Varner. I have such mixed feelings. He SEEMS contrite and horrified by his actions/behavior. But I am having a hard time following his logic. There's just no scenario in which Varner knowingly revealed a secret about someone, let along a secret THAT personal, that his intent wasn't to damage Zeke's character in some way.

Here's a transcribed version of most of the interview:
ew.com/tv/2017/04/13/survivor-jeff-varner-zeke-transgender-game-changer/

[jinkies]

Apr 13, 2017 11:15:34 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

konapoppy , that was an excellent read. Thank you for posting it.

Has anyone found a record of discussion between the producers and Zeke? Do we know, or are we at least confident, that Zeke was ok with that episode? I can't imagine, after Probst's reaction, that they would televise that without Zeke's approval.

I have seen multiple accounts that say that producers worked with both Zeke and GLAAD on this episode.

[Jalapeñomel]

Apr 13, 2017 11:15:34 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

konapoppy , that was an excellent read. Thank you for posting it.

Has anyone found a record of discussion between the producers and Zeke? Do we know, or are we at least confident, that Zeke was ok with that episode? I can't imagine, after Probst's reaction, that they would televise that without Zeke's approval.

This would be the kiss of death for Survivor if they didn't get his permission. 

[sporklemotion]

I've read accounts that Zeke worked with the producers on it. That said, whether he was *truly* OK with it is impossible to say. I am sure he felt pressure to let it air, especially as such a fan of the show, so I'm not convinced that he really had a choice to say no.
I haven't seen the episode yet, so I may be wrong about this, but if he had said no, how could they have aired the episode? How would they explain Varner's departure without showing the lead up? Did they stage a vote that they ended up not using, or something?
I have been ambivalent about Zeke in the past-- I generally like him, but have found him to be a little irritating at times (it may be a generational thing; he's always just seemed really hipster millennial, and I'm an olds). But that article made me love him. It was really well written and insightful.

[sugarbear]

jinkies, thanks. Jalapeñomel-- I agree. And I am so, so grateful that Probst went all in, in support of Zeke during Tribal. I haven't been able to read anything this morning beyond the article that was posted here.

sporklemotion, I imagine they would have just staged a vote and then edited out the whole conversation.

[spindle92]

Zeta was just on The Talk and he is an amazing human being with a heart of gold.

[jennybee1018]

Apr 12, 2017 20:51:05 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

Apr 12, 2017 20:43:23 GMT -5 sarahsays said:

I never thought Survivor would make me cry.

I also hope that they talked to Zeke about the episode before airing it, based on Probst's reaction, I think they would have.

stephm0188 , I believe Varner works with charities to help LGBTQ youth and because of that he may have picked up on some signs.

Makes sense. Also makes it that much more despicable. He knew better.

This is what I don't get! He works with LGBT youth, so he should fucking get it. This is not something anyone else should reveal on someone else's behalf! What a terrible role model he is now for the kids he works with!!!

Ugh. What an asshole. And Zeke was gracious but I'm not sure I'd be able to accept his lame apologies.

[noodle]

Apr 13, 2017 11:24:24 GMT -5 rockpaperscissors said:

I just listened to a radio interview with Varner. I have such mixed feelings. He SEEMS contrite and horrified by his actions/behavior. But I am having a hard time following his logic. There's just no scenario in which Varner knowingly revealed a secret about someone, let along a secret THAT personal, that his intent wasn't to damage Zeke's character in some way.

Here's a transcribed version of most of the interview:
ew.com/tv/2017/04/13/survivor-jeff-varner-zeke-transgender-game-changer/

This article does help me understand what he was thinking. I forgot that none of them had a chance to see Zeke's season. So I can see how he *might* think that the viewing audience already knew that Zeke was trans, and that he was *just* outing him to the players. But that really feels like a huge stretch, and still is a disgusting choice.

The article comes off as tone deaf, to me. I feel like he still thinks he deserves some sympathy here, and it makes me so furious that he thinks listing the great things he has done, or mentioning that Zeke called him a bigot, should minimize the disgusting choices he made.

He did it. So he is that person.

[mccallister84]

Apr 13, 2017 16:44:35 GMT -5 noodle said:

Apr 13, 2017 11:24:24 GMT -5 rockpaperscissors said:

I just listened to a radio interview with Varner. I have such mixed feelings. He SEEMS contrite and horrified by his actions/behavior. But I am having a hard time following his logic. There's just no scenario in which Varner knowingly revealed a secret about someone, let along a secret THAT personal, that his intent wasn't to damage Zeke's character in some way.

Here's a transcribed version of most of the interview:
ew.com/tv/2017/04/13/survivor-jeff-varner-zeke-transgender-game-changer/

This article does help me understand what he was thinking. I forgot that none of them had a chance to see Zeke's season. So I can see how he *might* think that the viewing audience already knew that Zeke was trans, and that he was *just* outing him to the players. But that really feels like a huge stretch, and still is a disgusting choice.

The article comes off as tone deaf, to me. I feel like he still thinks he deserves some sympathy here, and it makes me so furious that he thinks listing the great things he has done, or mentioning that Zeke called him a bigot, should minimize the disgusting choices he made.

He did it. So he is that person.

I have been even more disgusted by the interviews he is doing.

And, even if you think that everyone knows from the first season, you know none of these people know. It was not Varner's place to out him to ANYONE. I haven't heard him acknowledge that, he just keeps saying how he thought he was the new Russell Hantz and that he was trying to expose that.

[noodle]

Apr 13, 2017 19:45:48 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Apr 13, 2017 16:44:35 GMT -5 noodle said:

This article does help me understand what he was thinking. I forgot that none of them had a chance to see Zeke's season. So I can see how he *might* think that the viewing audience already knew that Zeke was trans, and that he was *just* outing him to the players. But that really feels like a huge stretch, and still is a disgusting choice.

The article comes off as tone deaf, to me. I feel like he still thinks he deserves some sympathy here, and it makes me so furious that he thinks listing the great things he has done, or mentioning that Zeke called him a bigot, should minimize the disgusting choices he made.

He did it. So he is that person.

I have been even more disgusted by the interviews he is doing.

And, even if you think that everyone knows from the first season, you know none of these people know. It was not Varner's place to out him to ANYONE. I haven't heard him acknowledge that, he just keeps saying how he thought he was the new Russell Hantz and that he was trying to expose that.

Oh, I totally agree.  There is absolutely no excuse for what he did, and he keeps saying things that are clearly an attempt to try to win back favor, or at least explain away what he did.  There is absolutely nothing he could say that would justify what he did.  Or make me believe for a second he's not the kind of person who would do something like this.

[gretchenindisguise]

We just watched tonight.

I'm aghast.

I cannot believe he did that. He was clearly motivated by money and winning and the game and that made worth it to him to out Zeke. It was calculated. He planned on coming into tribal with that. He thought about it and decided it was a good move to make. It was clear. He can say all he wants "this isn't who I am" until the cows come home, but uh, he just showed who he was on national tv.

I'm glad that Zeke has been able to embrace this moment and make it his own and use it to help others. He has shown who he is on national tv and it's impressive.

[melodramatic26]

I have been sick and so I didn't get around to watching until tonight. I couldn't believe a Survivor post was 2 pages on a non finale night. Or that the tribal started in with 20 minutes left and no chance of hanging jury.

Omg. Never ever would this have been a guess of what would have happened. Not Zeke and not by Varner- of all fucking people. I was aghast and then had tears. Shocked.

I watch every season of Survivor, but this one, this will stay with me forever and not for a good reason.