Survivor: Transgender man out by gay man during tribal

[+ purplekow]

It is difficult to envision that there are members of this forum who have not seen at least a few episodes of Survivor. This season, they invited back previous players to be involved in a season entitled Gamechangers.

Tonight's episode included a rather involved tribal council meeting in which one player, a gay new anchor man from NC, in an attempt to keep himself in the game tried to paint another player, a gay man, as deceptive and not to be trusted and used as his evidence the fact that the gay man was also transgender and had not made this common knowledge. The revelation of the sexual history of a player in such a manner had a dramatic effect on all the players. Ultimately, the transgendered man was supported, the anchor man was humiliated and sent off the island without so much as a vote. The elimination without a vote was a first for Survivor.

I have enjoyed many Survivor episodes in the past, but this was very dramatic and heartbreaking and left me feeling saddened.

I wonder if others have seen this episode and the kind of reaction others have had.

[+ poolboy48220]

not quite a first, remember Russell's crazy nephew? Sent away by his tribe, at the challenge, without even going to tribal council. If memory serves, they didn't even go through with the immunity challenge, they just forfeited it so they could get him out.

 

It was pretty intense. Very gratifying to see how much everyone rallied behind Zeke (the outed transgender guy). My roommate was in tears watching that. And rather nauseating watching Jeff, the guy who outed him, squirm and try to justify what he'd done. "Nobody is a bigger ally to the transgender community than I am" - yeah, right.

[+ Cash4Trash]

Jeff is now in the running for weasel of the year, it was a true dick move that backfired big league. The ensuing tears did not impress.

[edjames]

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Jeff's actions and comments in last night's tribal episode were appalling. He had no right to reveal Zeke's transgender status. "Bravo" to Zeke for his courage and dignity. Instead of boo-hoo-ing it, Jeff should have had the balls to stand up and say "I'm leaving, voluntarily and there is no need to vote." He sat there crying and trying to justify and defend his comments. Jeff Probst handled the situation well and in the end, there was no need for a vote as all agreed Jeff had to go.

[MiamiLooker]

I watched it last night. Varner’s motive wasn’t real clear to me. I wondered if the deception he referred to wasn’t so much that Zeke was trans, but that Zeke proclaimed he was gay. I haven't watched it enough this season to know if Zeke had come out as gay to the other survivors. Even if that was the “deception”, I don’t see how Varner thought this revelation could help him. Whether Zeke was hiding being gay or trans or both has little to nothing to do with whether or not he could be trusted. I hope this wasn’t just a publicity stunt for the show.

[+ purplekow]

I watched it last night. Varner’s motive wasn’t real clear to me. I wondered if the deception he referred to wasn’t so much that Zeke was trans, but that Zeke proclaimed he was gay. I haven't watched it enough this season to know if Zeke had come out as gay to the other survivors. Even if that was the “deception”, I don’t see how Varner thought this revelation could help him. Whether Zeke was hiding being gay or trans or both has little to nothing to do with whether or not he could be trusted. I hope this wasn’t just a publicity stunt for the show.

I do not think it was a publicity stunt as I do not think it was planned, but there is no doubt it will be used to further publicize the show.

[+ poolboy48220]

Not that I'm defending Jeff Varner (the guy who outed Zeke) - but as a long time viewer of the show, I know that you DO go a little crazy out there. Very little food, very stressful situation, often awful sleeping conditions; and you're vying for a million dollars. People do things they wouldn't do otherwise. But everyone at tribal council agreed that THIS crossed a huge line. The immediate shock from all the other players (and Jeff Probst, the host) was obvious.

[+ purplekow]

As it is well known, the only way two people can keep a secret is if one of them is dead. Clearly Zeke had confided in Jeff but then he failed to kill him. That was his flaw.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I watched last night. Earlier in the episode I was wondering if Varner and Zeke were going to hook up. Oops, obviously I was mistaken. What I don't know is how did Varner know that Zeke is transgender?

 

The immediate reaction from the other players was interesting. It seemed to me that the first reaction was to attack on Varner rather than comfort Zeke.

[+ poolboy48220]

Entertainment Weekly's recap of this week's episode concentrated solely on tribal council. The writer commended the host Jeff Probst for NOT going immediately to Zeke to get a reaction, but let him sit for a while and process what had just happened while the other players (and Probst) jumped on Varner. I'm sure next week's episode (which always starts out with the night of tribal council, and the tribe that attended talking about what had happened there) will show a lot of the tribe talking to Zeke.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

Yes, Probst handled it quite well.

[Larstrup]

The last time people took too seriously the events which happened on a TV reality show......( continued in another forum here)

[TruHart1]

I watched it last night. Varner’s motive wasn’t real clear to me. I wondered if the deception he referred to wasn’t so much that Zeke was trans, but that Zeke proclaimed he was gay. I haven't watched it enough this season to know if Zeke had come out as gay to the other survivors. Even if that was the “deception”, I don’t see how Varner thought this revelation could help him. Whether Zeke was hiding being gay or trans or both has little to nothing to do with whether or not he could be trusted. I hope this wasn’t just a publicity stunt for the show.

If memory serves, Zeke had come out as gay, at least to the camera, if not his tribe members, last year on Survivor: Millenials vs. Gen X, his first season on survivor. This season, at the most recent change to two tribes again, one of the three gay men (Tai, Varner or Zeke) could be heard saying, "All three gay guys together!" so I feel most everyone in the show this season knew Zeke was out as gay.

Not that I'm defending Jeff Varner (the guy who outed Zeke) - but as a long time viewer of the show, I know that you DO go a little crazy out there. Very little food, very stressful situation, often awful sleeping conditions; and you're vying for a million dollars. People do things they wouldn't do otherwise. But everyone at tribal council agreed that THIS crossed a huge line. The immediate shock from all the other players (and Jeff Probst, the host) was obvious.

You said it for me, @poolboy48220, after 17 days of starvation, meager sleep, etc., with very few allies and hardly any chance of not going home at the next Tribal council, people can do very stupid things to try to survive. What Varner did was unforgiveable, especially considering how much Zeke trusted him as a fellow gay man, and I do believe Varner is sorry but it's too late.

 

Here is an article about Zeke's interview on The Talk, indicating that the way the situation was handled on the show by Survivors' producers was left completely up to him: http://www.eonline.com/news/843428/zeke-smith-says-survivor-gave-him-unprecedented-autonomy-in-how-his-outing-was-handled

 

...and here is an interesting article from The Hollywood Reporter which Zeke wrote as guest columnist: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/survivor-zeke-smith-outed-as-transgender-guest-column-991514

 

Yes, this will soon be forgotten by most, especially those who are not Survivor fans and/or part of the LGBTQ community, yet it's refreshing to see these five other contestants, including a self-confessed conservative person (Sarah, the cop from Iowa) raised on the religious right, who has become such a good friend to a trans-gendered man that it does not change her opinion that Zeke is a good man and her friend. The times, they are a-changin'!!!

 

TruHart1

[Larstrup]

There's nothing better, and equally sickening , than playing the minority violation card to get people talking and becoming outraged over it. The manipulation of people with reality TV is astounding to me at times.

 

If people spent as much time, or at least the hour which they spend watching reality TV on CBS every-week and used that time supporting real human violations happening in our LGBTQ society everyday our world would be a much better place because of it and send the message that such exploitation of people for commercial purposes will not be embraced for ratings revenue by any of us.

[SuenosAmor]

What Varner did was crappy. I've never been a fan; he's never come across like a self-aware person. But I thought Probst did a good job of calling out his BS, the whole flip-flopping to save face. He's one of the best reality show hosts.

 

Love Zeke more than ever now. I hope this changes his life in a positive way.

[MikeyGMin]

There's nothing better, and equally sickening , than playing the minority violation card to get people talking and becoming outraged over it. The manipulation of people with reality TV is astounding to me at times.

 

If people spent as much time, or at least the hour which they spend watching reality TV on CBS every-week and used that time supporting real human violations happening in our LGBTQ society everyday our world would be a much better place because of it and send the message that such exploitation of people for commercial purposes will not be embraced for ratings revenue by any of us.

So do you actually watch the show or not? I can't tell. You have an awfully strong opinion about what went down considering you're presenting yourself as so much more sophisticated and intelligent than the great unwashed masses who watch the show.

 

It's a competition show. A very real, high-stakes competition in very hostile albeit contrived circumstances. Generally people who make broad sweeping judgments about "reality TV" don't even know the differences between shows like Survivor, The Bachelor and all those Housewives shows.

 

BTW... one could also support LGBTQ (and the rest of the alphabet) rights if they didn't spend time pontificating on a whore board.

[Larstrup]

So do you actually watch the show or not? I can't tell. You have an awfully strong opinion about what went down considering you're presenting yourself as so much more sophisticated and intelligent than the great unwashed masses who watch the show.

 

It's a competition show. A very real, high-stakes competition in very hostile albeit contrived circumstances. Generally people who make broad sweeping judgments about "reality TV" don't even know the differences between shows like Survivor, The Bachelor and all those Housewives shows.

 

BTW... one could also support LGBTQ (and the rest of the alphabet) rights if they didn't spend time pontificating on a whore board.

 

You're absolutely correct and I am completely ashamed for assuming otherwise. Please continue with the reality TV drama without my furthering thoughts about it.

[+ WilliamM]

You're absolutely correct and I am completely ashamed for assuming otherwise. Please continue with the reality TV drama without my furthering thoughts about it.

 

I just watched the show, but already knew a lot from reading here. My surprise was returning contestants who had won a million dollars in previous seasons, especially one person who won twice. Seeing Ozzy, Andrea and Cirie again is fine, because they never won the million dollar first prize.

 

While I believe The Amazing Race and Survivor are the best reality shows, I do not understand bringing back people like Sandra and Tony.

 

This is not the first time, Survivor has tried this approach. So there is some merit in @Larstrup comments.

[+ purplekow]

There's nothing better, and equally sickening , than playing the minority violation card to get people talking and becoming outraged over it. The manipulation of people with reality TV is astounding to me at times.

 

If people spent as much time, or at least the hour which they spend watching reality TV on CBS every-week and used that time supporting real human violations happening in our LGBTQ society everyday our world would be a much better place because of it and send the message that such exploitation of people for commercial purposes will not be embraced for ratings revenue by any of us.

Kind of like people spending time on escort review sites. Pot meet kettle.

[AndreFuture]

There's nothing better, and equally sickening , than playing the minority violation card to get people talking and becoming outraged over it. The manipulation of people with reality TV is astounding to me at times.

 

If people spent as much time, or at least the hour which they spend watching reality TV on CBS every-week and used that time supporting real human violations happening in our LGBTQ society everyday our world would be a much better place because of it and send the message that such exploitation of people for commercial purposes will not be embraced for ratings revenue by any of us.

 

I know you find it sickening, but what exactly can one gain/win by playing this "minority violation card"? Is it similar to the "victim card" I often hear about? Asking for a friend.

[TruHart1]

I've watched Survivor for many seasons including this one, and don't know what to make of anything I see, as I am always watching the show as a sceptic. The puzzle challenge solution of "metamorphosis" as the sign of things to come later in the same episode seemed too unlikely to be a coincidence. I don't have a crystal ball but this clearly is leading towards a Zeke 2nd place finish.

Why not Zeke as the winner, @Smurof? Just curious how you concluded only the runner-up position for him.

 

TruHart1

[LADoug1]

There's nothing better, and equally sickening , than playing the minority violation card to get people talking and becoming outraged over it. The manipulation of people with reality TV is astounding to me at times.

 

If people spent as much time, or at least the hour which they spend watching reality TV on CBS every-week and used that time supporting real human violations happening in our LGBTQ society everyday our world would be a much better place because of it and send the message that such exploitation of people for commercial purposes will not be embraced for ratings revenue by any of us.

 

I don't watch reality shows either and agree with this post.

[edjames]

Today's NYTimes covers the story well and provides an insightful look on how the show, which is filmed way in advance, prepared to air and address the episode::

 

How ‘Survivor’ and CBS Prepared for Outrage at Transgender Contestant’s Outing

 

By JOHN KOBLIN and CHRISTOPHER D. SHEAAPRIL 13, 2017

At first blush, it looks like a crisis for CBS: broadcasting an episode of its hit reality show “Survivor” on Wednesday in which one contestant outs a rival as transgender during an elimination round — a violation of privacy as well as a cultural flash point.

 

But in fact, CBS and the producers of “Survivor” have been preparing for months for just the kind of uproar that ensued Thursday over the outing of Zeke Smith.

 

From the moment the episode was filmed nearly 10 months ago, the “Survivor” producers had been consulting with Mr. Smith about how best to handle airing the incident, which included a strategic media rollout and working with Glaad, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights group, before the episode’s broadcast.

 

“The idea of not airing this never came up,” Jeff Probst, the show’s longtime host and an executive producer, said in an interview. “Zeke never asked for that. While he certainly did not have a hand in editing the show, Zeke and I have talked for nine months.”

 

Mr. Probst continued, “Zeke’s approach has been: ‘I’m going to use this and make something great come from it.’”

 

During the show’s so-called tribal council — in which contestants vote a member off an island in Fiji — the contestant Jeff Varner told Mr. Probst and the group that there had been “deception on levels, Jeff, that these guys don’t even understand.”

 

Turning to Mr. Smith, he asked, “Why haven’t you told anyone you’re transgender?”

 

Mr. Smith sat in stunned silence as the other contestants erupted in outrage, calling Mr. Varner’s comments inappropriate and irrelevant to the game. (Mr. Varner, who was already on thin ice, was eliminated.)

 

Mr. Probst said he learned that Mr. Smith, an asset manager from Brooklyn, was transgender as they went through the casting process before Mr. Smith’s first season on the show, which was broadcast last fall. (He is on consecutive seasons of “Survivor,” and his gender had not come up before.)

 

“I know from talking to Zeke a lot before the show that he was fully prepared with the fact that it might come out,” Mr. Probst said. “And he said, ‘I will handle that as I need to, if it does.’”

 

Still, Mr. Probst said that no one was expecting it to be deployed as a bombshell at a tribal council — a portion of a “Survivor” episode in which dramatic reveals are more likely to make it to broadcast because they may affect who is eliminated in the vote.

 

“I was as shocked as anybody else,” said Mr. Probst, who added that Mr. Varner had not indicated to a producer that he was going to bring the issue up during the vote.

 

On Thursday, Mr. Smith appeared on the daytime CBS show “The Talk” and said that he had been “granted unprecedented autonomy” in working with CBS and Mr. Probst to prepare for the episode’s broadcast and the personal revelations on national television. He also spoke of the show’s “integrity.”

 

Several opinion columns on the matter were even written in advance, in effect highlighting the outing and stoking the reactions.

• CY POLICY
  

Mr. Smith himself wrote a column for The Hollywood Reporter published on Wednesday night, timed to the broadcast of the episode.

 

“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,” Mr. Smith wrote. “In proclaiming, ‘Zeke is not the guy you think he is,’ and that ‘there is deception on levels y’all don’t understand,’ Varner is saying that I’m not really a man and that simply living as my authentic self is a nefarious trick. In reality, by being Zeke the dude, I am being my most honest self.”

 

After the episode was broadcast, reactions poured in.

 

“Zeke Smith, and transgender people like him, are not deceiving anyone by being their authentic selves, and it is dangerous and unacceptable to out a transgender person,” Nick Adams, an official with Glaad, said in a statement.

 

Some viewers, supportive of Mr. Smith, were roundly unforgiving of his being outed.

 

“The worst, cruelest moment ever on Survivor,” one wrote on Twitter.

 

“Stunned,” another fumed. “Can’t believe anyone would take it to that level.”

 

Some on social media noted that CBS could have chosen not to air the segment. “No Probst, YOU told millions of people. #Survivor,” the recent contestant Max Dawson posted on Twitter. But another former contestant, Eliza Orlins, wrote that it was “unavoidable” to include the outing moment in the show.

 

“No way to edit around it. Yikes,” she wrote.

 

In a statement Thursday, CBS said of Mr. Smith, “From his first season through the current edition, we have always been guided by the principle that this is his story to tell, and it remains so.

 

“We support how Jeff Probst and the producers handled a very sensitive situation,” the statement continued, “and marvel at the grace Zeke exhibited under extraordinary circumstances.”

 

Mr. Varner, a real estate agent from High Point, N.C., apologized on his Facebook and Twitter accounts shortly after the episode aired.

 

“Yep. I did that,” he wrote. “And I offer my deepest, most heartfelt apologies to Zeke Smith, his friends and life allies, his family, and to all those who my mistake hurt and offended. I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life.”

 

He added, “Let me be clear, outing someone is assault.”

 

During the tribal council, Mr. Probst decided to forgo a usual “Survivor” tradition. Instead of inviting cast members to write down the person they wished to vote off the island, Mr. Probst asked them all aloud if they agreed that Mr. Varner was the one to go.

 

“This moment, because of where we are in the culture, seemed to be so much bigger than our show,” Mr. Probst said in the interview. “And so this ritual of a torch snuffing, which is usually the end of an episode and very important, suddenly became completely insignificant.”

 

“What happened at tribal transcended ‘Survivor,’” he said.

[+ WilliamM]

I looked at a gay survivor gossip site last night. There have been thread about Zeke being transgender since this season of "Survivor" started.

 

Each "Survivor" season is filmed months before it is aired, so I am not surprised. The season Jud aka Fabio won, people on that site knew early on. It was a surprise because Fabio was a quiet handsome male model who seemed incapable of tying his shoes. He was a nice guy, so they keep him around and never voted him out....big mistake.

[+ poolboy48220]

True, this season was filmed in June 2016. It's amazing to me that they keep the winner under wraps as well as they do.