‘Survivor: Game Changers’ Zeke Smith Was Outed as Transgender, Fans React

Last night’s episode of Survivor: Game Changers became a game changer on many levels when Jeff Varner decided to out fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender, both outraging and inspiring fans to express themselves on Twitter.

While many people were angry about Jeff’s move, they also praised Zeke for handling it especially well. “Zeke is the strongest Survivor I’ve ever seen,” one fan wrote. “That tribal was horrifying & moving & beautiful all in one.”

In hindsight, however, Jeff said that he would have treated the situation differently. In an Instagram post after the episode aired, he apologized, comparing outing someone to assault.

“Yep. I did that. And 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,” the 50-year-old wrote. “I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew. I was wrong and make no excuses for it. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life. Let me be clear, outing someone is assault. It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger. It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. I am profoundly sorry. Zeke is a wonderful man and I will forever be amazed and inspired by his forgiveness and compassion. I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.”

Even Survivor host Jeff Probst was a bit taken aback, admitting to Entertainment Weekly that he wasn’t certain exactly what happened.

“My brain had to rewind and play it back. And if you watch the reaction at Tribal, Zeke’s tribemates seemed to go through the same moment,” Jeff explained. “They heard it…but had to process it…and then once it landed they responded quite vocally. And while they were sharing their feelings with Varner, I was still running it in my head. This…just…happened.”

Jeff continued: “In 34 seasons of Survivor, I have rarely, if ever, personally commented on what is said or done in the game. But this is a unique situation that falls outside the normal boundaries. I cannot imagine anyone thinking what was done to Zeke was OK on any level, under any circumstances, and certainly not simply because there was a million dollars on the line. I think the response from the tribe, as it so often does, mirrors what the vast majority of society will feel… You just don’t do that to someone.”

In a highlight with The Hollywood Reporter, Zeke took us back to that night:

“I remember walking into Tribal Council that night. I remember the smell of the kerosene in our torches,” Zeke wrote. “I remember the smug smirk on [Varner’s] face and the gleam in his eye when he turned to me and snarled, ‘Why haven’t you told anyone that you’re transgender…? 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. To my left was The Abyss. I could’ve made a clean break for it, but I knew there was no running from what had happened. Cameras would follow me, if not that night, then eventually. Running was not an option.”

It’s unclear whether Zeke is going to accept Jeff’s apology, but fans of the show ought to give him enough courage to make it through:

Survivor Zeke Smith