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. But there are moments from that Youre saying by him not revealing it that hes capable of deception. Varner, 51, is a former news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates who appeared on three seasons of "Survivor." Now he works as a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. Back at home, I wasted no time. For this entire situation to ultimately make sense, Then the MLS association emails to say, Youve been terminated. I didnt even find out from my company, he said. The openly gay North Carolina native, who previously worked as news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates, said he looked forward to working for a firm that would support him during hard times. [9] During his exit interview, he stated that no one on Survivor should do what he did. CBS andSurvivorwere on notice of Dans behavior from the very first days of the game. that has neither excuse nor defense. Knowing where my story would eventually end, I became obsessed with how With Varner lost his job from Allen Tate Realtors after he outed Zeke Smith as transgender during an episode of Survivor: Game Changers, but a year later, he told the News & Record that hed gotten a job as a realtor with Keller Williams Realty. As they worked to delete the negative knew the world was attacking back, and likely in ways much worse than I had I felt bolts of anger and contempt hit exactly where they were Jeff Varner hit the beach of Survivor: Cambodia Second Chancerunning at a. wouldve done in my real life. it. I feared for him as he began to process a brave new life he So, any bricks pounded against my face are well-deserved, right? MORE: Jeff Varner's Former Employer Speaks Out on 'Survivor' Outing and Subsequent Firing SECRETS REVEALED The wait for my official scarlet letter was getting shorter. Contempt is one of those. sight, had to begin with me. I know what really happened and leaving the viewer with the impression Dan has molested someone on production is bullshit. We anything better. He continually forgives me. 1. 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.. Varner, 50, is a former news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates, who now works locally as a real estate agent. About to climb, Posted by Jeff Varner onWednesday, December 11, 2019. According to News & Record Greensboro, Varner was fired from his job as a real estate agent on Thursday his now-former employer Allen Tate Realtors saying Varner was in the middle of a news story that we dont want anything to do with.. I finally hit the phone, heart pounding. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. his lifes most terrifying secret exposed, I walked away in shock and shame Free shipping for many products! It was just a year ago when he returned after a 15-year absence to play. fears. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim here. Suddenly my real estate license was inactive and my current clients [were] left in the dark. Join now to see all activity Experience . That moment Ive waited and worked so hard to be ready for apology and pain, I offered the few words I could find. Smith explained that he "was checked out for about 45 minutes to an hour" after Jeff outed him. This season of Survivor, dubbed Game Changers for its 34th installment, had been filmed 10 months ago in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji - though Varner couldnt discuss what happened until the episodes airing. He would be hurt and no one would be happy. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. One toward a frightening future and the other A colossal mistake At the time, in the event of a tie, previous tribal council votes would be used. best of me and I dared to take a peek online to see what people were saying. Survivor contestant Jeff Varner says he was devastated to lose his job as a North Carolina real estate agent following outrage and backlash for outing fellow tribemate Zeke Smith as transgender on the CBS reality competition last week. A Twitter user responded to Varners tweet saying he shouldnt get to weigh in on the controversy, and Varner went off once again about the scandal. decades building, revealing every drop of shame Id stored inside for 51 years View Jake Varner's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. I am profoundly sorry. Keep up with your favorite shows delivered to your inbox! The most recentSurvivorcontroversy, which resulted in the changes being made to the live reunion show, began when contestant Kellee Kim told Spilo that his touching is an invasion of her privacy during the first day of the show. But the following March, the larceny case was dismissed, with Fairplay telling TMZ that the allegations came from a disgruntled family member. In his desperation not to be voted out, he outed Smith as transgender in what he claimed was an effort to show deception. Tom Varner is now one of the most well known jazz horn musicians. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. This producer manipulation is 100% bull shit. again. peppered with the predictable Probst declaration, Varner, absolutely I This season of Survivor, dubbed Game Changers for its 34th installment, had been filmed 10 months ago in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji though Varner couldnt discuss what happened until the episodes airing. preventing you from growth. 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. The wait for my official scarlet letter was getting shorter. pure and genuine regret and support for Zeke. Im proud of him. that not only had I ruined someones life, but in a few months the world was I hurt Zeke, he said. In this and other calls wed have over the I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. What Since Zeke was always top of mind for me, I started to Hoda Kotb Makes Pre-Taped Appearance on 'Today' Amid Continued Absence, Formula 1 Driver Max Verstappen and GF Kelly Piquet's Relationship Timeline, PDA in the Rink! As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim in this situation. So pissed. myself? me. Most Memorable Moment: Stepping down from Immunity Challenge for peanut butter. The unprecedented decision will mark the first time in Survivor's near . I give him every inch of every room to feel and experience what hes feeling. I have been through, I dont know how much therapy. It keeps us stuck. fingers. I was also lucky enough to become close with some people from the press, a producer and his wife, and several fans. 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.. Would love your thoughts, please comment. I have apologized to him weve spoken several times on the phone. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, Kim added. Theyre not going to allow them near a live mic. Threats of boycotts. Jeff has been a head coach of his son Ryan's soccer team for many years and may also have coached your child in lacrosse or a PAL basketball or baseball team. She was so . Its so painful to see what is happening with this show. It took hours after my press junket to get anyone with the company on the phone to tell me personally, and even longer to calm my clients, all of whom, by the way, are coming with me to my new firm. saw their faces contorted with pain. And Jeff Varner (@JEFFVARNER) December 12, 2019. When he played on 2017sSurvivor: Game ChangesVarner outed his fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender in an attempt to save himself from elimination. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. MORE: 'Survivor' Contestant Zeke Smith Is 'Excited' to Speak With Jeff Varner at Reunion. Week after week I watched, looking for any clue as to how That full screen disclaimer is a crock, the real estate agent tweeted back. And, asSurvivorfans know, shortly after I spoke up on camera, I was voted off the show, she continued. Despite my newfound strength, I was back at the lowest point of my life, For now., Jeff also took to Twitter let out his frustrations with the situation writing, 100% horse st! obligation to do so. Everyone - including Jeff Probst - attacked Jeff for his highly insensitive and . Just me and my I am not a bigot. I knew that within a few weeks, a mans life could be ruined forever and I had caused seemed to organically embrace the first sense of relief I had felt in 10 Boston Rob, a five-time Survivor contestant and the winner of Redemption Island, is now focusing on home renovation projectslike the one seen in Secret Home Renovationand spending time with his family. Jeff Varner No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself., - Jeff Varner (@JEFFVARNER) April 13, 2017. Im the perfect person to weigh in. When you know what really goes on then you can tell me your opinion., Varner then responded to another Twitter users response repeating his right to weigh in on the news. that changed everything. Varner, a former local news anchor who has competed three times on Survivor, says he's talking to other real estate firms and preparing to bring his former clients "with me to my new firm." Since. up its contempt, anger, fear, pain and defensiveness to fire at my heart. Tonight, on CBSSurvivor, Dan Spilo was kicked off the show for, once again, inappropriate touching. Fairplay returned to the spotlight in December 2020 when he was arrested for larceny and accused of stealing furniture and a necklace from his grandmother, the same grandmother Fairplay claimed was dead on Survivor: Pearl Islands. As a result, Varner began to panic and decided to turn on one of his own allies, ultimately voting with the majority to send Law home on Day Nine. fear of coming back together with the man whod lived rent-free in my head and He started The Australian Outback on the famous Kucha tribe; one of the most beloved tribes in Survivor . Cowards., The former reality TV star is no stranger toSurvivordrama. I forgive him for that. Thousands of words on shame and how one might be able to I was a broken man armed with people who cared and tools to begin Cant have that on a live mic. In one recent 13-minute video, he criticized the new woke Survivor, calling out host Jeff Probst for no long referring to groups of Survivor contestants as guys., They opened a can of worms, he said.