Ive dreamed of starving on desert beaches and running around in my unwashed underwear for years! These Married At First Sight Couples Shocked Fans By Staying Together On Decision Day Despite Knowing They'd Break Up. Zeke Smith is a television personality who gained popularity as a contestant in Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X. Stop spreading lies! ET) on CBS. The double whammy of major depression and transitioning blasted away my confidence. That woman knows how to play, and part of playing to win is keeping your trap shut around Probst, said Smith, adding, What Ive learned is that I do not have the right personality to be a successful Survivor player. But thats not what happened. The message should be clear that hate will always lose.. '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. I am forever grateful that Probst gave me time to collect myself. Theres no one whose journey resonated with me more than former local network news anchor Jeff Varner. 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. Zeke Smith, a "Survivor" contestant who was outed as transgender on the show in 2017, recently reflected on his experience, stating that he would have been less accepted if he were a Black. Its awful. Something primal deep inside me screamed: run. No one is going to beat me up worse than I have myself.. 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. There is no why. Zeke Smith didn't want to be known as the "first transgender Survivor star.". To his credit, Varner received some bad breaks during his first two seasons, and in Game Changers, bad luck befell him once again. Matthew Thomas is a freelance writer who has written hundreds of articles over the last several years. In his thirties, he's in a stable relationship with his boyfriend, actor and comedian Nico Santos. It's just so important that that's where we head. We've been dealing with this since last July and being unable to talk about it has really been the worst. In the wake of his outing, Zeke led a partnership of Survivor, CBS, and GLAAD to craft a response which would provoke a global conversation about privacy and respect. All sound faded. Survivor airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. 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. I offer my deepest, most heart-felt apologies to Zeke Smith, his friends and life allies, his family and to all those who my mistake hurt and offended, he wrote. All Rights Reserved. I can only profusely apologize. Just opening yourself up and being honest and genuine helps wash that shame away and it's just been so beneficial to me. My rookie season, Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X, instantly proved challenging. I leapt fearlessly, until I crashed. He is most well-known for his innovative gamesmanship and witty storytelling on Survivor: Millennials vs GenX and Survivor: Game Changers. But now her family is sitting down and they are talking about it and they are sympathizing with trans people. Put under Survivors high stakes, I got out of my own way and allowed myself to be the man I always hoped I would be. I was arguing to everyone at tribal that there was this secret alliance and that they were all being deceived. 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. I remember the smug smirk on his face and the gleam in his eye when he turned to me and snarled, Why havent you told anyone that youre transgender?. 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. 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.. A week? Zeke always dreamed of playingSurvivor. Zeke Smith was outed as transgender by fellow contestant Jeff Varner in a shocking episode of Survivor: Game Changers on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. I sat up straight. 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. 71% Rating. Was Tamra Judge Ever Friends With Teresa Giudice Before Their Brutal Fight On Real Housewives Of Orange County? Zeke seems to take more offense to the reasoning you presented about transgender people than he did about you outing him. I saw a pain, a brokenness in his eyes that felt all too familiar a longing for the spotlight, but a desire to remain unseen. Zeke Smith was born on 25 January 1988 in Brooklyn, New York, the USA. If the pattern holds, it should be premiering its 41st season the third or fourth week of September 2021. 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. I couldve made a clean break for it, but I knew there was no running from what had happened. The numbers were not in his favor, but they were in mine, and I was excited to be on a tribe with him. Home Names: Shooting survivor Wilson Garcia looks up to the sky during a vigil on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Its long been my desire for Jeff Probst to reward my mastery of lying and manipulation with $1 million dollars, healso told CBS. 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As bad as this is and as bad as I feel, I'm glad that's what's happened as a part of this. It was never my intention. Zeke is a casual form of the name Ezekiel, an important prophet from the Old Testament. Try and tear me down, he said in his CBS interview when he first was cast on the show. 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. My mind revved back up to full speed. Transitioning created the opportunity to remake myself to really consider and construct the man I wanted to be. Running was not an option. Let's just be friends and chat and tell me what's going on" he opened up and shared with me that he was in a secret alliance with Andrea and Zeke. Zeke Origin and Meaning The name Zeke is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "God strengthens". I think he hoped others would believe that trans people are dangerous and fraudulent, he said. I stopped dreaming. 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.. If the price is right, Zeke delivers keynote speeches across the United States and Canada on the necessity of blazing one's own trail and the vital importance of allyship. "There was a new commander, and he'd been called in to see . I didnt know what to say. It wasn't something I went to tribal intending to use. 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. "I'm not wild about you knowing that I'm trans," two-time show player Zeke Smith writes for THR about this week's episode. Oz characters, short forms, Survivor greats, The West Wing characters, Xeno characters. He was outed as a transgender individual by fellow Survivor contestant Jeff Varner during the competition. 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 thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.. 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. 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. ), '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! ET) on CBS. $69.99 at Best Buy $69.99 at GameStop $70.99 at NewEgg. I thought Zeke was out and loud and proud. I could not have responded in the manner in which I did had he not held the wheel while I got my bearings. I see these kids struggling to retain hope that theyll have an equal shot in the world. In all of the ways that I had gamed out how I would potentially talk about being trans, it was never being so dramatically outed at Tribal Council.. At 28, Zeke joinedSurvivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X. He and Hali Ford were both contestants on Survivor: Game Changers. However, the structures sturdiness needed to be tested, because until it was, I would never definitively know if I was the man I believed myself to be. To adventure is to invite hazard into your life. As a result of the fact that Survivor has aired that many seasons, there has been a slew of different people whove gotten the chance to play the popular reality competition game. Suddenly, I found myself drawn to engage in challenging social situations, run obstacle races and backpack the Grand Canyon. A lot. Roger Duane "Zeke" Smith (September 29, 1936 - July 22, 2016) was an American football player in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants. My gut would tell me to fill someone in, but then panic would wash over me. Getty During Game Changers, I regret how much I talked to Probst. Game Changers was clearly incredible for Zeke, as he revealedon Instagram that he actuallydonated to Sandras Reality Rally campaign and the queen sent him an autographed photo! Published on April 15, 2017 03:09 PM. I don't know why. Save. I knew that Varners actions, though targeted at me, had nothing to do with me and everything to do with him. Now thatZekes truth has been revealedto the world, the Survivor: Game Changers castawayhas broken his silence inthe Hollywood Reporter. 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. Why did you choose to out Zeke at tribal council? February 21, 2017, 12:00 PM. He was outed as transgender during season 34. What has the reaction been from other Survivor contestants? It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger. Zeke shares a moving example of that impact in action. Just as I dont believe conservative politicians who attack trans people actually care where we use the bathroom. Tribal Council throws the question of life and death into stark relief. He was known for being a Reality Star. Whether I was conscious of it or not, Survivor player became part of the remodel blue prints. Tears dried, voices lowered and the attention turned to me to make sense of what happened. Survivorhad spun out of control. Related: Survivor: 10 Winners That Have 'Made It' The Biggest Since Their Season. News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Typically, my brain races far ahead of my ability to form words, but then it trudged, carefully selecting its path. 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. I love him. I wanted to be the guy who made it happen. Voting out Sandra. It was a horrible moment and I was so embarrassed. I know that forgiveness is difficult. The lights magnified in brightness. Next: 'Survivor' Zeke Smith Speaks About His Public Outing And How The Show Dealt With It. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. None of which were ventures Id have chosen earlier in my life. I am profoundly sorry. The reason for that is at that time both of them had been sharing images on Instagram of the two of them together. Hope that he understands the injury he caused and does not inflict it upon others. Hes BFFs with Hannah from season 33. As Survivor: Game Changers continues on, Zeke has kept a mostly low profile. I thought he deserved to know it would be his last day on the beach. The power was in my hands. Playing with rookies was one thing, but playing alongside my Survivor heroes in a season called Survivor: Game Changers was quite another. So I sat blank, almost in a trance, unaware of what happened around me, trying to form a plan. Theres no bathroom. We have to acknowledge that humanity and their dignity and lift up their voices and never reduce them to the disgusting things all these bigots do and all these people who just don't know and are acting out of fear. For both, trans people make easy targets for those looking to invoke prejudice in order to win votes. Youll compete to win bragging rights and a place of honor on our leaderboard. One member of the tribe must be sacrificed each visit. And to see that it is very bright.. Watch it now! On a recent episode of For Real: The Story of Reality TV on E!, Smith reflected on his experience with Survivor and how the show and host Jeff Probst handled his situation. After Nico Santos and Zeke Smith confirmed their relationship, there was a Superstore Academy For Your Consideration Event that was held in March of 2019. Zeke is a wonderful man and I will forever be amazed and inspired by his forgiveness and compassion. Name Popularity Related Ratings Comments Namesakes. However, it is important to note that a couple no longer posting photos of themselves together on social media doesnt necessarily mean anything. Im not wild about you knowing that Im trans. The results of the test wouldnt be discreetly mailed back to me; theyd be broadcast to the entire world. On a hot night in the summer of 2015, I pondered what this test might be. Get a closer look at the Season 34 contestants by clicking through our cast photo gallery. So when I go back to camp and am talking to everyone about deception, I wasn't thinking at all about trans. Survivor season 41 begins filming soon with an expected premiere date of late September 2021. 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. 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. Debbie, the Woman with an Infinite Number of Jobs, told me about all of her jobs. People think trans people are out there deceiving and theyre predators and theyre hiding in bathrooms and stuff thats just not true. with experts latest predictions and breaking news, Theres no playbook for being trans, Zeke continues. I faked confidence, hoping that when the day finally came to be dropped on a beach and meet the dashingly dimpled host and executive producer, Jeff Probst, Id finally believe it. 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. 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.. I think they did a good job with what they had to work with, but it's just very difficult. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. Smith has also found love with one of the stars of Superstore, Nico Santos. Thankfully, my tribemates rebuffed his hateful tactics. Everyones best move was unquestionably to get rid of Varner. He walked into the darkness, and the rest of us headed back to camp. Yes, castaways still sleep in the dirt and eat only what can be scrounged around the island, primarily coconut. 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. Responsibility fell upon my shoulders to right the ship that had blown perilously far off course. In oneof the most emotional moments in Survivorhistory,Zeke Smith was outed as transgender in last nights episode by Jeff Varner, who felt that Zeke was using the secret to deceive his fellow castaways. As of the time of this writing, it has been a long time since Nico Santos and Zeke Smith have habitually posted images of themselves together on social media. I was initially drawn to play in order to prove myself a cunning strategist worthy of a rare and highly coveted chance to one day return to the game. For both, trans people make easy targets for those looking to invoke prejudice in order to win votes. Keeping your gender history private is not the same as a gay person being in the closet. The only people who need to know are medical professionals and naked fun time friends., Sign up to get Gold Derbys free newsletter I've been crying all day and that's not something I want to do. 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. Zeke Smith has appeared on Survivor: Game Changers twice in two seasons, but he's now making headlines for reasons he's not happy about. I like to shine all the time, and winners need to be able to control their shimmer., Interestingly, Probst said something very similar about Smith in a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly conducted four years ago during Game Changers., I met Zeke in casting and loved him. I have apologized to him weve spoken several times on the phone. I'm going home. 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. I thought that the viewers knew and everybody knew. So when I was arguing at tribal and I say "I thought everybody knew," I was talking about everybody at home watching. Thankfully, my tribemates rebuffed his hateful tactics. Forgiveness does not require forgetting or excusing his actions. I've got some wonderful people in my life that have helped me through this moment. According to what Nico had to say at that time, Santos' relationship with Smith had already hit a major milestone. And hes calling me a bigot and full of hate and all kinds of stuff. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. Here are some of facts to know about Survivor contestant, Zeke Smith. 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. Varner took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to issue a lengthy apology. 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. 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. It is quite another to incense bigotry toward a marginalized minority. 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. While he wastechnically a Millennial, he admitted in his interview and multiple times throughout the season that he never felt like one. What was appropriate? I spoke as calmly as I possibly could. In truth, Zeke just wasnt ready to come out, which is what made Varners move one of the mostepic reality TV blundersof all time. I studied religion in college, focusing specifically on LGBTQ people and the Bible. Better to have acquaintances than no one at all. Id chosen to test myself in a tremendously public way. I didnt want to be the first transgenderSurvivor star, Zeke Smith toldPEOPLE. We shattered stereotypes. 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. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zeke -- who was voted out of Survivor: Game Changers on Wednesday night -- revealed he first met Andrea several years ago while playing a day-long game called Survivor: Brooklyn in a New York City park. I told myself, Dude, you resolved to never stop playing. Celebrity Engagements of 2022: Stars Who Got Engaged. This is how 'Survivor' star Zeke Smith met 'Superstore's' Nico Santos and where their relationship stands in 2022. ', Amber Riley Says She 'Didn't Really Know Where I Stood' on 'The Masked Singer' Before Winning, Jennifer Hudson on Her Talk Show, EGOT Win and Facing Fears Head On: 'You Will Always See Me Try', Jeff Varner outed his tribemate, Zeke Smith, as transgender, posted an apology on Twitter after the episode aired. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Police were called five times before Friday's deadly mass shooting in Texas . For example, the shows fans want to know which Survivor couples have stayed together and which ones have split up. I tuned back in to the conversation and found chaos tears, yelling, anger, but mostly confusion. That's when Zeke spoke up. When we were in pain and we are in fair, we are dangerous people. I hurt Zeke and that's something that I'll never get over. I could let this be one of the worst moments of my life or one of the greatest. I took solace in my tribemates. Though he was born and raised in Oklahoma City and currently resides in Los Angeles (where he is tremendously disappointed in the food), Zeke will always consider himself a New Yorker. But he wasnt going to. I lost many from my life when I transitioned. I just wanted to be known for my game., FROM COINAGE: Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Buy A Home. 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. 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. It was like waking up in Westeros, Lord Zeke of the Mustache Lands, fighting to claim the Iron Throne. 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. Our tribe proved unable to unscramble a word, metamorphosis, losing the Immunity Challenge and sending us to Tribal Council. My gut would tell me to fill someone in, but then panic would wash over me. "Andrea and I knew each other before we played Survivor together. 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. We make easy targets. Many trans people don't find it necessary to tell people, especially so long after transition. I just wanted to go out on an adventure and play a great game. I hurt Zeke, he said. I knew part of the reason I was brought back is that Probst liked the way I talked about the game, and the expectation was that I would continue to deliver. See, when I got on a plane to Fiji last March, I expected to get voted out third. It helped the healing begin, but it really couldn't start until last night. Some are . If anything needs cleaning, it gets cleaned with sand and saltwater. Follow THR.com/Survivor for more coverage from the season, and let us know what you think of Zekes story in the comments below. I am and always have been the guy who tries to be teachers pet or in Survivors case, Probsts Pet, said Smith. Id been charmed by my castmates quirks and touched by their stories. Casting called back two hours later, and I began to panic. 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? He'd later come out and began dating actorNico Santos. We didn't have the luxury of watching his first season. I couldnt believe how well I was doing. Just the dirt and the hunger and the honor of another day playing the worlds greatest game. When it happened at Tribal Council, Smith admitted that it left him reeling I was checked out for about 45 minutes to an hour [after it happened], said Smith.

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