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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Apr 13, 2017 16:16:44 GMT
There was at least one instance of someone being allowed to leave without a vote when they had asked to be voted out plus there was the infamous Brandon Hantz ousting where they didn't even go to tribal council - they just did a show of hands on the beach.
I'll be listening to some interviews to hear what Jeff has to say now that there is some distance. He posted a long message on his twitter this morning, but I'd like to hear what he was thinking was going to happen. This clearly didn't go as he expected.
Unless I missed it, neither Jeff Probst or Zeke mentioned in their articles whether Zeke was given the opportunity to decide whether that aired or not. I know it would have been hard to edit that without telling the story, but I think this was outside the game and, even though the show certainly had the legal right to show all of this, I hope he was given the chance to make the decision.
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 13, 2017 16:28:39 GMT
Wow, what the frack did Varner expect to accomplish with that outing?   I agree with everyone saying it wasn't scripted. Tribals last about 3 hours and are usually edited to 10 minutes. I suspect this lasted even longer, and the flow of horror to forgiveness becomes disjointed as they edited to get the best of everyones' individual reactions, Probst's reaction, Varner's attempts to step it back along with Zeke's reaction. Even the decision to skip the formal voting seems disjointed, but I'm sure things were said that didn't make the final cut making it clear beyond any doubt Varner was out. Probst deserves an Emmy for how he managed the whole Tribal and not going immediately to Zeke for a reaction. Leaving him alone to absorb & process what happened and let his tribemates express the same horror everyone was feeling at home allowed Zeke to compose himself and articulate a response. Zeke isn't a perfect human being (I was a huge fan until he and Bret ganged up on David last season), but the last thing he wants is any special treatment because he is trans. I really don't expect him to play it up around camp or use this outing to protect himself from getting targeted. He definitely doesn't want to be the guy who made it to the end because anyone felt sorry for him or that he is untouchable. I do think metamorphosis was an odd word for them to use in the puzzle. The teams were immediately going to words like "shipwrecked" and "shipmaster" thinking it would be something to do with the Survivor theme and Hali and Michaela were looking at the actual letters which led to their win. |
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 13, 2017 16:57:10 GMT
Here is a link to a very well-written response by Zeke linkThanks for the link.  I especially respect what he said about forgiveness: |
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 13, 2017 17:07:01 GMT
I'm in tears for Zeke, my mouth hit the floor. I can't imagine this was planned. I just don't know. Wow. That was the most uncomfortable tribal I've ever sat through. I hated every second of it after Jeff's bomb. All I could think was why in the world they put that on TV. I'm sure they talked to Zeke and he said it was ok. Or maybe I just hope that they did. I wanted it to not have happened, and I wanted the producers to have not shown it. It was awful. we watched and i was in complete shock - my stomach just jolted that was so ...horrible even my husband...and i'll be the first to admit that he isn't the most 'inclusive' person in the world well - i think he just experienced a eureka moment his face - he was just crushed for Zeke he said 'that was the most dickish move he's seen on tv - and that zeke's business is his own' and i swear to Christ - i saw a lightbulb go on over his head he said this morning that he's not sure he wants to watch a show that would do that to a guy gina Thanks for sharing. If there is any silver lining to what Varner did, I think this is it. It sounds like your DH's reaction was similar to Sarah's. |
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Post by birukitty on Apr 13, 2017 19:37:50 GMT
Coming into this late but have to agree with so many of you. I've watched every single episode of Survivor since the day it started. Every single season. Last night I was in tears for Zeke. What Jeff Varner did was unforgivable! Was the lowest, most vicious, callous, hurtful, devious, painful thing you can do to another person and then to do that on national TV in front of millions of people?! And to top that off have it done by a gay man himself who is supposed to be an advocate who supports the gay/lesbian/trans community? What the hell?
I mean, maybe you can see it being done by someone who is a super conservative preacher's son (someone ignorant not knowing any better)-not that that would make it any less forgivable. It's still the most despicable, vicious thing to do to someone. I hate Jeff Varner for what he did and I hope he suffers mightily for it for the rest of his life. He deserves to. He doesn't deserve any forgiveness.
My heart filled when I saw how Zeke's teammates reacted. Every single one of them came to his defense and were shocked and disgusted by what Jeff had done. Probst made sure to point out that even after Jeff started apologizing left and right it isn't that easy. He said something like, "you've put this out here in front of millions of people on live TV, you can't just take it back." I don't think Jeff was that sorry for what he'd done to Zeke. I think Jeff was sorry that his plan back fired on himself.
Zeke was amazing. He handled it all with grace and dignity. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to handle it with half as much class as he did had I been in his shoes.
As far as Survivor being scripted-no I don't believe it is. Metamorphosis being the word puzzle? To me it meant the changes contestants go through as they play the game. They start out eager and healthy, but as time goes on they get really hungry and weak. The team that didn't win the pizzas talked about this. Some can't take it and their spirit dies. They give up, can't compete as well and get voted out. Others dig in deep (as Jeff Probst likes to say) compete well in spite of it and stay in the game. Their metamorphosis is they end the game a much stronger person than they were when they began.
I'm very sorry for what Zeke went through. I'm happy Jeff Varner is out, and I'm thrilled Ozzie made it to the merge.
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Post by spitfiregirl on Apr 13, 2017 22:27:52 GMT
im not sure if it was scripted or not, but don't you think that once you go on a TELEVISION show... A reality show that has millions of viewers, and you are in the public eye, that there is a chance your past can come out? Its not right, but its part of the public persona thing that happens when you go on a reality show. I hope eke was somewhat prepared for this, as much as he could be .... I disagree. Nobody in 2 seasons knew. Not viewers or contestants. Not even Probst by the look of it. If Zeke applied as a man without revealing it, then he had his reasons. It did NOT give Jeff Varner, the producers or ANYONE the right to reveal it even if they did know. Zeke is the ONLY person to have that choice. Zeke handled it with class and grace. I never suspected he was born female. It had no bearing on his gameplay. you disagree that there is a chance your past can come out? Things come out of the woodwork when you are on TV .... I agree it was wrong and I agree no one knew, but i still think that when you are in the public eye, skeletons, whatever they may be might come out of the closet. No one had the right to do this to Zeke, and its a bummer that his "friend" and person he bonded with did this.... Varner is just about the most hated man in America today. |
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Post by jackie on Apr 13, 2017 23:30:16 GMT
ITA. Jeff has always been very self-serving. His tears were all about realizing he'd failed AND in the process made himself look terrible and earned him enemies. He doesn't give two shits about Zeke.
I don't think it's scripted either Debbie. I agree that I think metamorphosis is a word that could apply to all of the contestants. Not only that, the theme of the show is game changers, so doesn't that tie in with the whole metamorphosis thing?
Also, I think that Zeke DID always know that it could come out. He decided to play anyway. Still, I think being blindsided the way he was, by a gay man and someone he liked and trusted was a terrible shock. You could really tell he was in shock too.
I just watched the episode again with my dh and dd. Cried the first time I watched it and I cried again.
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Post by gale w on Apr 14, 2017 0:20:29 GMT
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katybee
Drama Llama
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Post by katybee on Apr 14, 2017 0:28:08 GMT
Can we talk about something else that was overshadowed by the whole Varner thing.... how about that group therapy session the Mana tribe had after losing the reward challenge/pizza. Aubrey, Cirie, Sierra and even Brad crying and talking about how the game has changed them.... I swear they all suffered from PTSD. :0
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Post by kels99 on Apr 14, 2017 0:28:39 GMT
How did Varner know in the first place? Did Zeke tell him? Maybe I missed that part.
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 14, 2017 0:34:27 GMT
Can we talk about something else that was overshadowed by the whole Varner thing.... how about that group therapy session the Mana tribe had after losing the reward challenge/pizza. Aubrey, Cirie, Sierra and even Brad crying and talking about how the game has changed them.... I swear they all suffered from PTSD. :0 It was a big bonding moment for the group, and think the emotion took Brad by surprise more than anyone else, but kind of rolled my eyes at how quickly he moved back into "how can I use this" mode. I am a little amazed that he is only realizing now what Monica went through to get to 39 days.  |
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Post by gale w on Apr 14, 2017 0:39:46 GMT
How did Varner know in the first place? Did Zeke tell him? Maybe I missed that part. Somehow Russell Hantz knew and told him. I'm not even kidding. |
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 14, 2017 1:02:45 GMT
How did Varner know in the first place? Did Zeke tell him? Maybe I missed that part. Somehow Russell Hantz knew and told him. I'm not even kidding. Do you have a source for this? I know there were rumors of Zeke being transgender on a few sites last season, but the timing of Hantz being able to find out anything and share it with Varner seems off. Zeke's first season hadn't aired when this season was filmed so none of those rumors were circulating yet. Zeke and Michaela were late additions to this season's line up so there was a very narrow window (2-3 weeks) for any information on either of them to be out there. The only thing we know for sure is that Zeke did not tell him, but I don't think it would be too hard for someone digging to find out. I'm just surprised anyone went digging. |
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grammanisi
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by grammanisi on Apr 14, 2017 1:43:43 GMT
I'm in tears for Zeke, my mouth hit the floor My sister and I were talking about it and I told her that I literally had had to pick my jaw up off the floor!! Well, not literally, but almost! |
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Post by gale w on Apr 14, 2017 1:54:54 GMT
Somehow Russell Hantz knew and told him. I'm not even kidding. Do you have a source for this? I know there were rumors of Zeke being transgender on a few sites last season, but the timing of Hantz being able to find out anything and share it with Varner seems off. Zeke's first season hadn't aired when this season was filmed so none of those rumors were circulating yet. Zeke and Michaela were late additions to this season's line up so there was a very narrow window (2-3 weeks) for any information on either of them to be out there. The only thing we know for sure is that Zeke did not tell him, but I don't think it would be too hard for someone digging to find out. I'm just surprised anyone went digging. It's from a spoiler group on fb. The group owner somehow gets spoilers and in the few years I've been in it, he's never been wrong. |
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Post by pjaye on Apr 14, 2017 2:57:05 GMT
I'm not specifically defending Varner, but he may not have needed to be told.
They are in quite close quarters there and to pick up multiple small things that would lead him to this conclusion is possible. We all know men go off and pee together, maybe Zeke always made excuses to go off on his own, maybe he noticed the scars on his chest etc.
Just like women can often identify a male to female transgender person while men are oblivious, it's not unreasonable to think another man might pick up on this when they are living so closely together.
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Post by jackie on Apr 14, 2017 4:51:41 GMT
I've heard (and it might just be speculation) that it was surgery scars, as pjaye mentioned. Probably I wouldn't notic them or if I did, would think nothing of them. But someone in the LGBT community might see them and know right away. Jeff has been asked how he knew and, out of respect for Zeke, he won't say. I guess when he's no longer playing for a million dollars he grows a conscience.
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by happymomma on Apr 14, 2017 6:14:57 GMT
IMO, Varner wasn't the only one who knew, but the others had the common decency to not bring it up.
I say this because I read on another board that Zeke had telltale scars on his chest. I did google image him and yes, those scars would have been hard to miss up close.
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Post by pjaye on Apr 14, 2017 6:50:23 GMT
IMO, Varner wasn't the only one who knew, but the others had the common decency to not bring it up. I think that's very likely and probably why they reacted as quickly as they did at TC - because for some of them at least it wasn't a complete surprise...but there was no need to discuss it either. I currently work on a ward where people have the various gender affirmation surgeries and the breast reduction surgery scars are still reasonably large and they also have 'nipple grafts' - where the whole nipple is removed, sometimes reduced in size and repositioned on the chest where it looks more natural for a man, so not only are there scars under the breast area, they are also all around the nipple. Scars do fade with time, but they are probably still noticeable, and Zeke does walk around with his shirt off a bit, so it's likely Varner wasn't the only one who noticed and came to that conclusion. He was just the only one who decided to be so malicious with that observation. |
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Post by hollymolly on Apr 14, 2017 12:44:43 GMT
pjaye That's the first time I've heard "gender affirmation" instead of "gender reassignment" surgeries. That makes me happy. One word makes such a difference. When people start thinking of it as affirming who you are instead of being re-assigned to something you aren't, then their attitudes towards people who have the surgery will change. I felt like Varner "figured it out" based on physical clues as well. I don't know that I would have recognized those specific scars, because it's not part of my experience, but I would imagine Varner has seen them before on others. Watching the show, I thought Zeke had told Varner, and his trust was being betrayed, but afterward I realized that he hadn't discussed it with Zeke at all and it was just a huge blindside. I'd like to think Varner is not a despicable person, but it's hard. He planned that, it wasn't a desperate, back-against-the-wall move.
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
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Post by tanya2 on Apr 15, 2017 2:54:33 GMT
I'm reading now that Varner has been fired from his job as a real estate agent since the show aired. The agency didn't want to be tied to the bad publicity.
I wonder what else he's had to deal with since his stupidity was aired on national television
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Post by gale w on Apr 15, 2017 3:44:59 GMT
He had only been with that employer for a few weeks so probably still within the probationary period.
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