Id been charmed by my castmates quirks and touched by their stories. Here's everything else you need to know about him. The moment I put that buff, the official Survivor player uniform, on my head, my confidence became real. On April 12, 2017, an episode of Survivor aired called What Happened on Exile, Stays on Exile. On it, Jeff Varner outed Zeke Smith as a transgender man at Tribal Council and was voted off unanimously after being blasted for blurting out something that was Smiths story to tell. Zeke is a casual form of the name Ezekiel, an important prophet from the Old Testament. I think you saw me say on the show that this was not about this game. He is also a creative consultant on and contributor to the Netflix documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen. Growing up in London, Ontario, Canada, Matthew developed a love for storytelling that he loves to share with others through his writing. Even if he feels the need to for whatever reason to do it at my expense. The reality star just revealed that while in college, he transitioned. 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. 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. They know my soul and they know that's not who I am. Powered by, One 'Survivor' castaway reveals his biggest regret from the game, which is that Jeff Probst was so fond of him. Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Voting out Sandra. Months before, I plotted how Id respond in case of such a disaster scenario, but those words were written a lifetime ago and nowhere in mind. : Who will win Survivor: Game Changers? Now, another contestant has taken that choice away. Varner told Entertainment Tonight at the time that he was so sorry for what he did to Smith and wanted to make it right if he could. There was no plot, no plan, no anything. What has the reaction been from other Survivor contestants? Something primal deep inside me screamed: run. Perhaps the coolest thing about the people whove played Survivor is that some of them have very different life stories. In an emotional interview with PEOPLE on Thursday, Varner broke down saying his biggest regret was playing into the deceitful stereotypes many have about transgender people. What a summer! 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. But he wasnt going to. 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. He thinks he 100 percent has what it takes to win. There is no why. Zeke Smith was outed as transgender on national TV when "Survivor: Game Changers" aired in 2017. Zeke shares a moving example of that impact in action. Though Im not particularly religious, I feel passionately that people of faith should not be denied religious ritual or spiritual community because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and shared what Id learned with Varner over long conversations on the beach. Happy Valentines Day, fianc, he wrote adding #Heke.. We make easy targets. READ NEXT: Survivors Jeff Probst Reveals How He Spent Quarantine, One Survivor Blames Jeff Probst For His Downfall, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. That was my messed-up thinking at the time. Why stop now? 'Survivor' Castaway Zeke Smith Explains Why He Wanted CBS to Air Controversial Tribal Council, More from Entertainment Tonight: bit.ly/1xTQtvw Jeff Varner outed Smith as transgender on Wednesday night's episode of 'Survivor: Game Changers. So I woke up every morning and told myself I would win. A lot. My left leg settled and with it the group. Its up to you to decide whether the hazard will define you or you will define the hazard. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. Smith said the person Probst called on the least was Sarah Lacina and wouldnt you know it, but she won the game. This was Varners third shot and likely his last. Getty Zeke Smith attends Rising Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards on May 4, 2018 at the New York Hilton. We've been dealing with this since last July and being unable to talk about it has really been the worst. Zeke has not always gone after his dreams. Now I could just play. 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. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Hes the most amazing partner I could have ever dreamed and asked for. For both, trans people make easy targets for those looking to invoke prejudice in order to win votes. I didnt know what to say. But forgiveness does not require friendship. ', Zeke was at first caught off guard, but he persevered, confessing, I am forever grateful that Probst gave me time to collect myself. So when I go back to camp and am talking to everyone about deception, I wasn't thinking at all about trans. There was one post-merge Tribal where, I swear, he called on me every other person. I honestly probably wouldnt have survived these past few weeks without him, said Santos, who lost his stepfather to COVID in early 2020. We created a global conversation about privacy and respect, said Smith, adding, Over the past year, Ive met a lot of trans kids. I could let this be one of the worst moments of my life or one of the greatest. By Zeke Smith. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. We both love food, so well either go to our go-to restaurants or find a new place, we also love finding new places to eat, or hell cook. Many trans people don't find it necessary to tell people, especially so long after transition. Responsibility fell upon my shoulders to right the ship that had blown perilously far off course. On Wednesday night's episode of Survivor: Game Changer, contestant Jeff Varner outed Zeke Smith as transgender, while facing elimination.Now that the shocking revelation has been made, people want to know more from Zeke Smith's wiki. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. Zeke is in my bottom 10 contestants to ever play. A week? Thats why we asked him back to play a second time.. After 34 seasons, Survivor is far from the cute little social experiment it began as in the summer of 2000. The results of the test wouldnt be discreetly mailed back to me; theyd be broadcast to the entire world. We didn't have the luxury of watching his first season. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. Get a closer look at the Season 34 contestants by clicking through our cast photo gallery. 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. In mid-2018, there started to be rumblings on the celebrity rumor websites claiming that Survivors Zeke Smith and Superstores Nico Santos had become a couple. Asset manager from New York who became a national name as a reality television contestant on the long-running seriesSurvivorin 2017. 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. Were a group of adults playing a very expensive game of make believe. 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. You don't see Zeke saying, "There is no deception. Zeke Smith attends Rising Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards on May 4, 2018 at the New York Hilton. He is most well-known for his innovative gamesmanship and witty storytelling on Survivor: Millennials vs GenX and Survivor: Game Changers. Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related. I forgive him for that. Zeke always dreamed of playingSurvivor. Zeke Smith was born on 25 January 1988 in Brooklyn, New York, the USA. The first night we huddled together in the mud as the Fijian skies dumped buckets of rain upon us. Celebrity Engagements of 2022: Stars Who Got Engaged. What if that person told other people? It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger. His studies focused upon Biblical interpretation and LGBTQ-inclusive theology. Varner, who. I excelled in challenges, proving myself adept in the water and a master at puzzles. But, if were being perfectly honest with one another, Ive struggled with that forgiveness in the months following. They go to bed at 9pm. ), 'We're Here' Drag Star Eureka O'Hara Comes Out as Trans: 'I Know Who I Am Without Question', Vicky Krieps on Embracing Her Inner Rebel for 'Corsage' : 'I Always Had Trouble Fitting In', Kim Petras on Finding Success After Being Told She'd 'Never Make It': 'Look at Me Now, Bitches! 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. Playing Survivor well means knowing when to play fast and when to play slow, but deep into the game I was having so much fun playing fast that I laid on the gas. I was invited back immediately for an all-star season, during the course of which I was maliciously outed by a former local network news anchor. They have a running joke on their Instagram accounts that theyre romantically involved; he even posted a photoof her being proposed to. Im not wild about you knowing that Im trans. 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 . December 17th, 9 pm, Pacific Standard Time. In the following exclusive column for The Hollywood Reporter, Zeke one of very few players in show history to compete on back-to-back seasons shares hisside of the journey, his experience as a trans man, the reasons why he pursued Survivor, the thrill of that adventure, and what it was like on the night he was outed on national television and how he powered through it. I cant foresee us sipping martinis together in Fire Island. That's when Zeke spoke up. Zeke Smith regrets being Probst's "pet. His terrible utteranceswere not an effect of my actions, but a reflection of his own personal maladies. "Trans people are a highly vulnerable population. Zeke from 'Survivor: Game Changers' on living with the legacy of Russell Hantz. Survivorhad spun out of control. Its awful. My rookie season, Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X, instantly proved challenging. According to what Nico had to say at that time, Santos' relationship with Smith had already hit a major milestone. I couldnt believe how well I was doing. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim here. 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. Zeke Smith Game Changers Millennials vs. Gen X Contestant Profile Born January 25, 1988 (age 35) Hometown Brooklyn, New York Occupation Asset Manager Social Media Survivor Career Version United States Millennials vs. Gen X Tribe (s) Vanua Vinaka Finish 9/20 Alliance (s) Zeke's Vinaka Alliance Challenge Wins 9 Votes Against 14 Days Lasted 33 Twenty minutes later, before I could scarf a cheeseburger or peel off my rotting boxers, Probst asked if I was up for doing it all over again in two weeks alongside some of the games best players. During that time, he said hes done a lot of growing. I remember the smell of the kerosene in our torches. I worked with them to make sure that I am learning and growing and helping other people learn and grow because that's so important. All Rights Reserved. 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. Frannie Marin: 5 Things To Know About The Survivor Fan Now Competing In Season 44, Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter, Rihanna Gushes Over Baby, 11 Mos., & Pregnancy In Sweet New Met Gala Interview: 'I'm Obsessed', Gordon Lightfoot's Kids: Everything To Know About The Late Singer's 6 Children, Frannie Marin: 5 Things To Know About The Survivor Fan Now Competing In Season 44, Michelle Yeoh, Florence Pugh, & More Stars in Showstopping Black & White Looks at the 2023 Met Gala, Kendall Jenners 2023 Met Gala Look Is Very Kris Jenner Coded, What Is the STAR Interview Method? Last week's episode of Survivor: Game Changers was a big moment for Jeff Varner and Zeke Smith, but also one for the rest of the Nuku tribe -- including Ozzy Lusth. A month? 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. 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. Zeke seems to take more offense to the reasoning you presented about transgender people than he did about you outing him. Tribal Council throws the question of life and death into stark relief. First-and-foremost, Zeke is a comedy writer. I don't even really remember a lot of it. It was real. It was not my intention. One of the things that breaks my heart the most is that thats one of the stigmas that trans people fight the most, Varner said. It was a horrible moment and I was so embarrassed. Hes definitely an old soul. The cameras, though 30 feet away, suddenly felt inches from my face. The answer appeared instantly, for it had been the constant in this chapter: Survivor. The other contestants erupted in outrage, calling. Here's what happened and it was ugly it was so unfortunate." And emotionally it just came out. His move, which caused outrage and backlash, not only cost the 50-year-old three-time player to be unanimously voted out of the game by his tribemates but it also cost him his real-life job. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. I followed the path of least resistance, telling myself I would amount to something someday, just not today. I am NOT, I repeat, NOT25! Later it would become known that Santos and Smith met when they both were at an after-party for the GLAAD Media Awards and from there they were inseparable. 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.. In a recent interview, two-time Survivor castaway Zeke Smith opened up about his experience on the show, including that he thinks being Jeff Probst's "pet . While I can reconcile the personal slight of him outing me, I continue to be troubled by his willingness to deploy such a dangerous stereotype on a global platform. A persons gender history is private information and it is up to them, and only them, when, how and to whom they choose to disclose that information. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Police were called five times before Friday's deadly mass shooting in Texas . As bad as this is and as bad as I feel, I'm glad that's what's happened as a part of this. I just sat down and wrote it one day. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. Honestly, I held the world at arms length. And well Netflix and chill.. I have been reading and working a lot with Dr. Bren Brown, who is the shame expert in the world, and she's helped me understand that vulnerability is the antidote to shame. So when I was arguing at tribal and I say "I thought everybody knew," I was talking about everybody at home watching. 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. At the conclusion of Tribal, Jeff Varners torch was snuffed. 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. Like, you know when youre thinking of your dream boyfriend? I have hope for Jeff Varner. 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. I ended up being pretty good at Survivor. Once they became aware of those rumors, Santos and Smith took to Twitter to confirm their relationship with a little bit of humor. My mind revved back up to full speed. At 28, Zeke joined Survivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life., Let me be clear, outing someone is assault, Varner said. Hes BFFs with Hannah from season 33. Name Popularity Related Names Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. [Sobbing] My God, I'm crying. Theres no one whose journey resonated with me more than former local network news anchor Jeff Varner. But, despite all its deprivations, your Survivor life can be superior to your regular life. Zeke Smith surprised boyfriend Nico Santos at the GLAAD Media Awards where they first met four years earlier with a romantic proposal. On April 12, 2017, an episode of "Survivor" aired called "What Happened on Exile, Stays . 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. He really does, and I always keep asking myself, like, How are you a real person? Im like, Hes hot, hes a good cook, he takes care of me, hes amazing I love him so much.. With over two decades worth of episodes, Survivor has evolved in countless ways. Hollywood Life Survivor airs on Wednesdays at 8PM on CBS. I needed to calm everyone down. And I just hope that those kinds of conversations are happening all over the country. As the tears began flowing and host Jeff Probst looked gobsmacked, Varner was eventually eliminated by aunanimous verbal vote. So, it wasnt much of a surprise when he returned for season 34,GameChangers. In truth, Zeke just wasnt ready to come out, which is what made Varners move one of the mostepic reality TV blundersof all time. READ NEXT: One Survivor Alum Has an Epic Idea For a Legends Season, Zeke Smith Reflects On How Jeff Probst & Survivor Handled His Transgender Outing, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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