# Survivor: Game Changers Starts on Wednesday **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 6, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580 "2017-03-06T21:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Mr.Lebodnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@Mr.Lebodnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Lebodnik)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/161 "2017-04-14T00:14:26Z")
Varner should be grateful he’s not heterosexual. He’s certainly getting a hard time over this (and well deserved), but, if he were some young muscle-head white heterosexual male who said the same thing there’d be people sending him death threats. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/162 "2017-04-14T00:35:20Z")
> [@Mr.Lebodnik](#): > > Varner should be grateful he’s not heterosexual. > He’s certainly getting a hard time over this (and well deserved), but, if he were some young muscle-head white heterosexual male who said the same thing there’d be people sending him death threats. Honestly, I consider it WORSE that a gay man did this. Varner should have KNOWN just how despicable this was. I can understand a straight guy, especially a young straight guy, not understanding just how profound it is to out someone. But Varner…not only a gay man, but a gay man of an older generation who grew up in the time when being outed as gay was just as profound as being outed as trans is today. If anything, his own age and orientation exacerbates his error. He should have KNOWN! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/163 "2017-04-14T00:36:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > OK, if “innocent bystander” isn’t good phrasing, let me just say that I’m not buying his “I’m shocked” response. He knew Zeke was trans, and I’m assuming he knew Zeke had confided in Varner, too. But anyway, it’s just an opinion, and I can’t prove it, so if you don’t agree that’s fine with me. I’m just making an observation. I won’t comment on it anymore. > > But just to be clear, that doesn’t excuse Varner. Had someone whispered in his ear “why don’t you out Zeke”, it still would have been 100% his fault for doing so. Personal responsibility is all that matters, and he made the choice to out Zeke. He didn’t have to do that. Why do you keep assuming Zeke told Varner? There is no evidence of that. Read Zeke’s [interview](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=20136654)in The Hollywood Reporter, it’s very informative. I also completely disagree that Probst did anything wrong here. He didn’t “egg on” Varner because he knew he would out Zeke, that’s preposterous. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/164 "2017-04-14T01:20:34Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why do you keep assuming Zeke told Varner? There is no evidence of that. Read Zeke’s [interview](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=20136654)in The Hollywood Reporter, it’s very informative. > > I also completely disagree that Probst did anything wrong here. He didn’t “egg on” Varner because he knew he would out Zeke, that’s preposterous. I agree, I find that it’s unclear if Zeke told Varner. Given his statement that on his two seasons of Survivor he’s told no one, I think Varner just somehow puzzled it out on his own. EDIT: According to comments I’ve seen elsewhere, in his day-after video Varner said that he knew Zeke was trans as soon as he met him, and (incorrectly) assumed that Zeke was the first trans Survivor and was on the show sorta for that reason. Zeke’s article on Hollywood Reporter is really good, but your link didn’t work for me, so I’ll relink it here: ['Survivor': Zeke Smith Outed as Transgender | Guest Column](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/survivor-zeke-smith-outed-as-transgender-guest-column-991514) ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/165 "2017-04-14T01:25:04Z")
I think they should have had a vote. Probst held an open vote to prevent any shenanigans and make sure Varner was voted out. I think he wanted to show that the production team did not support outing someone and if you do something like that, you’re gone. But it’s pretty hyprocritical when the show itself is what is outing Zeke to the world at large. The show seems to be setting up Zeke and Brad as the power players at the moment. I feel like there’s a whole lot of people who haven’t met, or haven’t had much screen time and we don’t know where they are at. I hope they start to get some airtime because I’m not at all interested in either of those two as Survivor players. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/166 "2017-04-14T01:33:58Z")
If anyone thinks Probst had zero idea what Varner’s revelation was, you’re kidding yourself. He knew what was coming, and he was inwardly beside himself with glee at the reveal and subsequent controversy. That said, Zeke was absolutely courageous in his reaction during the outing and his response afterwards. mmm ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/167 "2017-04-14T01:45:59Z")
The more I think about it, the more I agree that they should have had a vote. Of course that would have eaten into air time concerning “the controversy”, so that probably wasn’t in the cards. Oh well, it’s just a game. I still think it’s the best reality show out there, but that’s not saying all that much. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/168 "2017-04-14T12:36:09Z")
[Dalton Ross’ column/recap](http://ew.com/recap/survivor-season-34-episode-7/) was devoted entirely to Tribal Council this week… worth a read. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/169 "2017-04-14T14:33:06Z")
If this clip has been referenced from last season, I haven’t seen it anywhere. Its where Bret Labelle (The big burly cop from Boston) reveals to Zeke that he is gay. And Zeke says something to the fact that it never occurred to him to “not coming out” at age 15. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mzapNIPep6o/maxresdefault.jpg "Wholesome LGBT Scene Between Zeke and Bret on Survivor") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzapNIPep6o) ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/170 "2017-04-14T14:50:06Z")
Well, here you go. Zeke did \*\*not \*\*tell Varner. From an interview with Varner when asked if Zeke told him: [QUOTE=Varner] Not directly. He talked about all kinds of things that led me indirectly, not only that he was OK and out, I believed he was out. I had no idea that Zeke had not come out. Everything led to that. I don’t want to talk about how I knew, because in respect to Zeke, I don’t think that’s the right direction to go. When I said that out loud at Tribal, I was not 100% certain. [/QUOTE] Which just makes what he did look even shittier IMO. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/171 "2017-04-14T15:34:42Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > What got me first was how Varner’s speech up to that one point felt like it could actually convince the others to vote off Ozzy. And then…it was like watching the waves of regret slapping him down over and over. I think by the time for the post-elimination interview he really under the magnitude of his mistake. Yes, I saw doubt in their eyes. we gave him still 50/50 for being voted off but until that point, he was making them reconsider. Then- blammo. Horrible. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/172 "2017-04-14T15:44:39Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > You’re probably right, production could have edited the the Tribal Council so that this topic never aired. > > But there is a good chance that this is an on-going talking point for the rest of the season. I have no doubt at all that they conferred with Zeke and Zeke Oked it. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/173 "2017-04-14T17:21:57Z")
It’s a disgusting scene, and Varner falls back on the old “because I am a privileged white gay male I understand all others and speak for all others intimately.” Which I’ve seen SO MANY times before, including right up and personal in real life, as privileged white gay males have taken the stage to speak on the “transgender experience” - while I’m sitting right there on the stage next to them. :rolleyes: It was very clear to me that he was equating being stealth with being “deceptive.” I’d love to give Varner an earful right to his smug face. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/174 "2017-04-14T17:55:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have no doubt at all that they conferred with Zeke and Zeke Oked it. Even if Zeke had said, “please don’t out me on national television,” and the producers complied, it probably would have gotten out anyway. Sooner or later one of the contestants would have spilled the beans, perhaps inadvertently in a media interview. There would be huge repercussions if it got out that something that significant had been excised from the show. However, if Zeke had pleaded with the producers to edit it out, I don’t think they’d be obligated to do so. IANAL, but my reading of the [Survivor contract](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2010/05/survivor-cast-contract/) is that CBS can air anything that is filmed during the game. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/175 "2017-04-14T19:28:34Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > privileged white gay males Is that ACTUALLY a term people use? Jesus, maybe I’m just old, but no one of my generation would have ever considered that term to be something anyone would ever say. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/176 "2017-04-14T19:44:19Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Is that ACTUALLY a term people use? Jesus, maybe I’m just old, but no one of my generation would have ever considered that term to be something anyone would ever say. Welcome to the circular firing squad that is the modern day left. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/177 "2017-04-14T19:49:20Z")
**Una** ’s point is exactly what I was referring to, though. People like to try and equate different forms of prejudice, when they’re not necessarily comparable. So people like Varner who are part of a discriminated minority in being gay, but otherwise are white and/or male, etc, think that their experience lets them completely understand (and in some circumstances, use) what other, different discriminated groups go through, which isn’t true. It can feel like someone who’s white claiming they understand what it’s like to be black and racially discriminated against because “the Irish were discriminated against back in the day and I’m Irish.” * * * [According to Probst](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/13/arts/television/survivor-contestant-transgender.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur), CBS worked with Zeke about how to present the episode, but the idea of not airing it was never considered (or at least, not broached by Zeke). Also, Varner apparently [got fired from his job](http://www.greensboro.com/blogs/gotriad_extra/greensboro-s-jeff-varner-faces-backlash-after-outing-fellow-survivor/article_1d75e724-08cc-5fbb-826f-72e6ac9ecaa3.html) as a real estate agent after the episode aired. Which does make me feel a bit bad for him… he fucked up bad, and what he did was certainly wrong, but he’s apparently been nothing but remorseful since then (including feeling suicidal), and having his job taken from him seems like a step too far. Though of course I’m sure his job doesn’t want to be involved with the media storm either… risk of going on Survivor, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/178 "2017-04-14T20:18:04Z")
The comments at the “getting fired from his job” link are a great illustration of the circular firing squad I referenced​. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/179 "2017-04-14T20:36:35Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Yeah, but Jeff was full of shit at tribal when he said something along the lines that Varner not only outed Zeke to the rest of the tribe but also millions of viewers. No, Varner outed Zeke to the other tribe members and the production crew. Outing Zeke to millions of viewers (weeks after the actual incident) required some help from Probst. Zeke says in [this article](http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/14/entertainment/zeke-smith-survivor-outing/) that he was given “unprecedented autonomy in how I wanted to tell my story.” Whether that means they wouldn’t have shown any of that discussion from TC had he not OK’d it, I can’t say. I can’t figure how they would have explained Varner leaving without a vote otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580/180 "2017-04-14T20:52:57Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > Also, Varner apparently [got fired from his job](http://www.greensboro.com/blogs/gotriad_extra/greensboro-s-jeff-varner-faces-backlash-after-outing-fellow-survivor/article_1d75e724-08cc-5fbb-826f-72e6ac9ecaa3.html) as a real estate agent after the episode aired. Which does make me feel a bit bad for him… he fucked up bad, and what he did was certainly wrong, but he’s apparently been nothing but remorseful since then (including feeling suicidal), and having his job taken from him seems like a step too far. Though of course I’m sure his job doesn’t want to be involved with the media storm either… risk of going on Survivor, I suppose. Wow, there’s a quote from Varner in that article where he’s defending himself that IMHO makes him look even worse: > [@](#): > > “It’s unfortunate that you can’t see the entire tribal. I wish they put that as a secret scene or something,” Varner told EW. “When I was talking about the deception of the secret alliance and trying to sway everybody else, there was a moment where Zeke looked at me — this was edited out of the show — and he said ‘There is no deception, I’m not deceiving anybody.’ And when he said that, my question just came out of my mouth to him.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-game-changers-starts-on-wednesday/781580.md?page=10)