Now I could just play. [Sobbing again.] His terrible utteranceswere not an effect of my actions, but a reflection of his own personal maladies. [Survivor: Brooklyn] is where I met Andrea, about three years before we . From here on in, I shoot with this girl on my hip. 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. What was appropriate? It was a horrible moment and I was so embarrassed. The answer appeared instantly, for it had been the constant in this chapter: Survivor. One member of the tribe must be sacrificed each visit. Tribal Council throws the question of life and death into stark relief. To adventure is to invite hazard into your life. I guess everybody knows about my hot little 25 year-old boyfriend now. While he was technically a Millennial, he admitted in his interview and multiple times throughout the season that he never felt like one.. Sarah and I spoke last night about the growth in her world. But, the harsh elements merely play backdrop to a complex game of social politics dominated by secret alliances, hidden advantages and each cutthroat players ability to befriend and betray any who stand in their way. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Here's everything else you need to know about him. Related: These Hollywood Couples Got Engaged, But Never Got Married, Hes just the best. I was free. Survivor is back in production now. It was like waking up in Westeros, Lord Zeke of the Mustache Lands, fighting to claim the Iron Throne. I began connecting with others in a meaningful way around the same time that my being trans stopped being a readily known fact about me. Survivor season 41 begins filming soon with an expected premiere date of late September 2021. Theres no toilet paper. ET. Not even Beyonce herself couldve tempted me out of the rain and mud and back into my soft Brooklyn bed. On top of that, once Survivor fans learn that Zeke Smith from the show and Superstores Nico Santos have dated, they want to know if they are still together. I don't know why. 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. As tough as its been for him, Varner recognizes that Smith, 29, is the real victim here. While that certainly isnt proof that Smith and Santos are still together since they could still be friends after splitting, it makes it seem more likely they remain a couple. Patrick Gomez is the Editor in Chief/General Manager of Entertainment Weekly. Along with Michaela Bradshaw, he has also appeared in the series Survivor: Game Changers. I stopped dreaming. 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. 5. Zeke Smith is a writer, comedian, activist, and former (emphasis on the former) reality television contestant. I was living, finally. Getty Zeke Smith attends Rising Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards on May 4, 2018 at the New York Hilton. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! [regarding the secret alliance.] But forgiveness does not require friendship. 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. During Zeke's senior year in high school, he ranked at the top 16 in High School Debater. "There was a new commander, and he'd been called in to see . Here are some of facts to know about Survivor contestant, Zeke Smith. Related: Though Varner has been openly gay for many years, he chose not to discuss his sexual orientation during his first two stints on the show. All my preparation paid off: I made fire with bamboo I made a fire by rubbing two damn sticks together. ', Zeke was at first caught off guard, but he persevered, confessing, I am forever grateful that Probst gave me time to collect myself. He thinks he 100 percent has what it takes to win. Coconut, by the way, is a natural laxative. News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' $69.99 at Best Buy $69.99 at GameStop $70.99 at NewEgg. I knew Id conquer whatever the game might throw at me. Was Tamra Judge Ever Friends With Teresa Giudice Before Their Brutal Fight On Real Housewives Of Orange County? Who comes on a reality show not once but twice with a secret like that and nobody knows? Debbie, the Woman with an Infinite Number of Jobs, told me about all of her jobs. Of course, money isnt the only thing that matters which is why a lot of people are interested in the love lives of their favorite former Survivor players. Hope that whatever torments his soul will plague him no more. We've been dealing with this since last July and being unable to talk about it has really been the worst. Smith, who is still in the game, told PEOPLE he was shell-shocked by Varners decision and struggles with forgiving him. And mine is a very positive one because subsequent to my outing, my life has only gotten better.. I found it difficult enough to simply put one foot in front of the other. He was outed as transgender during season 34. 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 . I hurt Zeke and that's something that I'll never get over. Theres no playbook for being trans. It was from my heart and as genuine as it could possibly be. He was outed as a transgender individual by fellow Survivor contestant Jeff Varner during the competition. Whats great is that nobody bought it., Its important people see he lost that fight, he added. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. To his credit, Varner received some bad breaks during his first two seasons, and in Game Changers, bad luck befell him once again. I never resumed leaping. I excelled in challenges, proving myself adept in the water and a master at puzzles. I forgive him for that. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. Here's what happened and it was ugly it was so unfortunate." I've talked to Zeke on the phone several times and that's been really helpful and healthy. 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. Ever since being on the show together,Hannah Shapiro and Zeke are seriously BFFs. Varner took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to issue a lengthy apology. Beyond his charm and charisma, I thought I recognized a deep-seated insecurity and self-loathing, a glimpse at who I could become were I not careful. He continually forgives me. 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. I just wanted to go out on an adventure and play a great game. Prior to that, the openly gay North Carolina native had worked as news anchor for CBS and Fox affiliates. Zeke, now 29, revealed in a new interview that during the April 12 episode taping, a contestant (we found out on the episode that it was Jeff Varner)on the show outed him. In proclaiming Zeke is not the guy you think he is and that there is deception on levels yall dont understand,Varner is saying that Im not really a man and that simply living as my authentic self is a nefarious trick. Responsibility fell upon my shoulders to right the ship that had blown perilously far off course. Its up to you to decide whether the hazard will define you or you will define the hazard. I deserve every bit of it. All Varner had to do was make it until tomorrow and hed get his jury seat. Even those who arent outwardly hateful crinkle their noses at you. I could not have responded in the manner in which I did had he not held the wheel while I got my bearings., I dont believe Varner hates trans people, Zeke concludes. We shattered stereotypes. Oh, haaayyy @nicosantos. In response to Zeke Smiths tweet, Nico Santos published a tweet of his own that played into the joke that they were one of those celebrity couples with a big age gap. [Sobbing] My God, I'm crying. I know that there are going to be haters out here that are just aren't going to buy anything I have to say. 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My gut would tell me to fill someone in, but then panic would wash over me. What if that person told other people?, Zeke first played on last seasons Millennials vs. Gen X, where he made it all the way to Day 33. And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. Heres How It Can Help You Nab Your Next Job, Why Camila Banus (Gabi) Is Exiting Days of Our Lives After 13 Years. I wanted the jury for him. Something primal deep inside me screamed: run. They know my soul and they know that's not who I am. All Rights Reserved. He was out to some people especially people who've known him a long time, as they could have been there throughout his transition, but other people had no idea. Asset manager from New York who became a national name as a reality television contestant on the long-running seriesSurvivorin 2017. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. I still have my original notes from that meeting. As much as I felt for the man, I wasnt giving up my dream for his. I see these kids struggling to retain hope that theyll have an equal shot in the world. Not then savvy enough to think about the impact my monologues would have on my tribemates egos, I soliloquized and Jeff beamed, and the rest of the cast glowered., He added, Probst had a major crush on me. Typically, my brain races far ahead of my ability to form words, but then it trudged, carefully selecting its path. 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. Everyones best move was unquestionably to get rid of Varner. 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. My biggest concern was that if people knew, their opinion of me would change. I didnt want to be the first transgenderSurvivor star, Zeke Smith toldPEOPLE. I thought of his family and his friends watching that moment I'm sad. I think they did a good job with what they had to work with, but it's just very difficult. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has several skills that you can unlock throughout the course of the campaign. So significant was the experience that I remember where I watched episode one of Survivor: Cook Islands; I remember the date, May 2, 2010; I remember distinctly Jeff Probsts opening line, You are watching 20 Americans begin an adventure that will forever change their lives. I was hooked. Smith said the person Probst called on the least was Sarah Lacina and wouldnt you know it, but she won the game. The thrill of adventure comes from accepting this risk, and the reward from confronting whatever might be thrown at you. No chocolate chip cookies. Matthew Thomas is a freelance writer who has written hundreds of articles over the last several years. Survivor fans were shocked and appalled after contestant Jeff Varner outed his tribemate, Zeke Smith, as transgender in an attempt to paint him as "deceitful" on Wednesday's episode of the CBS reality competition. I just remember I felt two feet tall and everyone was screaming at me and shaming it. During his senior year of high school, he ranked as a Top 16 high school debater in the country. A week? Getty After graduating and moving to New York, no one knew me or saw me as anything other than Zeke, which was tremendously liberating my whole life, I desired my manhood to be known without question or qualification. "One of my favorite stories is of a trans guy in the Air Force," explains Zeke. Updated Aug 22, 2021 at 11:09am. Even Probst, the most neutral of arbiters, had my back. Was Camille Lamb's Below Deck Salary Worth The Endless Drama She Endured On The Show? Id made such a believer out of Probst that my second shot came immediately, which meant that I was every bit the player Id dreamed Id be. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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 . I didnt 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. A lot. So I held them at arms length. The numbers were not in his favor, but they were in mine, and I was excited to be on a tribe with him. He is also a creative consultant on and contributor to the Netflix documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen. In the seventh episode of CBS' Survivor: Game Changers, castaway Zeke Smith returning for his second appearance in two seasons was . He walked into the darkness, and the rest of us headed back to camp. [Editor note: Season 34 began filming before season 33 aired.] Binky Felstead finally reveals her newborn son's sweet name two weeks after giving birth to . And there were clues here and there throughout the whole thing. Cameras would follow me, if not that night, then eventually. I have hope for Jeff Varner. I couldnt believe how well I was doing. Playing with rookies was one thing, but playing alongside my Survivor heroes in a season called Survivor: Game Changers was quite another. Entry updated July 2, 2008. In Survivor, much is permissible which is typically objectionable, but there are limits, as there should be on a family-friendly reality show on network television. Follow THR.com/Survivor for more coverage from the season, and let us know what you think of Zekes story in the comments below. My right leg settled down, but my left still jittered. There was no room for failure. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. What was Zeke Smith's birth name? 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. I knew the six people in front of us didn't know and so it just when it dawned on me that nobody knew at home and he's not out and that I am the reason he is now out, I just came unglued. An odd sentiment, I realize, for someone who signed up for two seasons of the CBS reality giant, Survivor. Theres no one whose journey resonated with me more than former local network news anchor Jeff Varner. Clearly, the stakes are not actually life and death. I think the editing was good. by ; 28 kwietnia 2023 According to what Nico had to say at that time, Santos' relationship with Smith had already hit a major milestone. If I set the tone, everyone would follow. At 28, Zeke joinedSurvivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X. 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 my heart overrode my head when I sat down with him that afternoon. . I went from someone who very few people knew to be trans to one of the most visible transgender men in the world (which says more about trans mens visibility than it does about me). Yes, castaways still sleep in the dirt and eat only what can be scrounged around the island, primarily coconut. ', Zeke Smith accepts GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program, At GLAAD's Rising Stars Luncheon at the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York on May 4th, Zeke Smith accepted the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program on behalf of Survivor: Game Changers, and delivered inspirational remarks to an audience of LGBTQ young people and influencers. None of which were ventures Id have chosen earlier in my life. Thats the risk you take when you dance in the ethical borderlands, where youll betray a friend, swear on your mother and lie to a priest, all before you eat whatever meager crumbs count as breakfast. I very easily couldve been voted out third, but I managed to form strong relationships, maneuver other players to my will and climb my way to the top of the pack. The 29-year-old, who made his debut on season 33 last fall and returned for the all-star season 34 in March, was visibly shaken by the revelation. He appeared on both Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X and Survivor: Game Changers. They are humans, he continued, sobbing. And to see that it is very bright.. By Zeke Smith. LGBTQ visibility on television matters because for many it is the only chance to glimpse their future. During that event, US Weekly interviewed Santos and asked him about his relationship with Smith. The reason for that is at that time both of them had been sharing images on Instagram of the two of them together. But now her family is sitting down and they are talking about it and they are sympathizing with trans people. Im not ashamed of being trans, but I didnt want that to be my story. Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related. with experts latest predictions and breaking news, Theres no playbook for being trans, Zeke continues. My prowess became undeniable and, as is the fate of most who are considered the leading threat to win, I was voted out. While working for all of those websites, Matthew has been able to cover a variety of subjects he is very passionate about including movies, TV shows, comics, and wrestling. I'm going home. ", Zeke Smith and Jeff Probst talk about Survivor's work with GLAAD, "GLAAD's philosophy is that authentic LGBTQ representation accelerates acceptance and saves lives" For more information about GLAAD's work, please visit glaad.org, Tribal Council S34E06 (1 of 4) Survivor: Game Changers, Jeff Varner outs Zeke, Please support me by installing my Puzzles from Survivor app: apps.apple.com/us/app/puzzle-cluster/id1460284314 Alliance Tracker for Survivor app: apps.apple.com/us/app/alliance-tracker-for-survivor/id1486051580 #Survivor #SuvivorSuperFan #SurvivorGeek Twitter: twitter.com/rrTenz survivor.fandom.com/wiki/What_Happened_on_Exile,_Stays_on_Exile Day 18 I don't want to lose Ozzy, because the way I've set it up is to have bigger threats out there than myself. 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. He admitted that he just cant help himself around Probst, he just could not stop talking I see those baby blues and those dimples, and my mouth just falls open.. I honestly probably wouldnt have survived these past few weeks without him, said Santos, who lost his stepfather to COVID in early 2020. I just wanted to go outon an adventure and play a great game.. I applied. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. Zeke Smith was outed as transgender on national TV when "Survivor: Game Changers" aired in 2017. Zeke Smith attends Rising Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards on May 4, 2018 at the New York Hilton. In mid-2018, there started to be rumblings on the celebrity rumor websites claiming that Survivor's Zeke Smith and Superstore's Nico Santos had become a couple. Thatand the time he was outed as transgender. A week? Later in the same interview, Nico Santos was asked about the possibility of Zeke Smith proposing to him and he said, Im here for it if that happens. The cameras, though 30 feet away, suddenly felt inches from my face. You don't see all of that and I understand why you don't, I'm not complaining about the editing at all, but that's what my thinking was: there was no thinking. The double whammy of major depression and transitioning blasted away my confidence. We've got to stop that. The world possesses no greater test of wit and grit than Survivor at least thats what I believe, but Im a pretty ridiculous individual, which is why, when seeking to radically change my life and test the depths of my manhood, I picked a reality show instead of something actually noble, like joining the Peace Corps. He did admit that when he returned from the show, he felt his outing hanging over him like a time bomb because he knew his life was about to radically change as soon as the season aired and for a while, he didnt know when it was going to happen because he didnt know the airdate of that particular episode. CBS. Running was not an option. Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. For both, trans people make easy targets for those looking to invoke prejudice in order to win votes. Growing up, I set big lofty goals Broadway, a high school debate championships, Harvard and pursued them doggedly. Since new love truly is intoxicating, it is common for people who are in a relationship that is just starting to flaunt how much they adore each other both in real life and on social media. Whether I was conscious of it or not, Survivor player became part of the remodel blue prints. During Game Changers, I regret how much I talked to Probst. Get a closer look at the Season 34 contestants by clicking through our cast photo gallery. In his youth, Zeke dabbled in musical theater. I didn't have any expectations of how people would react. I couldve made a clean break for it, but I knew there was no running from what had happened. We say things we dont mean. I threw myself into preparation. I told myself, Dude, you resolved to never stop playing. During the Survivor's show, he got distracted after seeing his father. While my peers in Oklahoma were content to follow the path set for them, I forged my own, leaping from boulder to boulder with no regard for what was expected of me. Birth name: Rubin Zarchy: Born June 12, 1915 New York City, New York: Died: April 11, 2009 (aged 93) Irvine, California: Genres: Big band; Swing; Jazz; Occupation(s) Musician: Instrument(s) Trumpet: Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy (June 12, 1915 - April 11, 2009) was an American lead trumpet player of the big band and swing eras.
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