Editor’s Note: This story contains spoilers for Wednesday’s episode of “Survivor: Game Changers.”
CNN
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The outing of a “Survivor” cast member on television has sparked outrage.
Zeke Smith, who appeared on back-to-back seasons of the reality series, was revealed to be a transgender man by fellow contestant Jeff Varner in an episode that aired Wednesday night.
Varner, who is gay, shared the information during an emotional Tribal Council on “Survivor: Game Changers.”
“Why haven’t you told anyone you’re transgender?” Varner asked Smith.
Other contestants reacted negatively, telling Varner that was personal and he shouldn’t have said it. Varner insisted he did it to show that Smith was deceptive during the game.
Smith responded by explaining that he didn’t want to be labeled “the trans ‘Survivor’ player.”
“I wanted to be Zeke the ‘Survivor’ player,” Smith said.
Some fans were both stunned by the revelation and angered that Varner chose to go public with the information.
Contestants on the series compete for a major cash prize by surviving in remote locations and competing in extreme challenges.
“Survivor” host Jeff Probst told Entertainment Weekly that while he has rarely given his personal opinion in 34 seasons of the series, he could not remain quiet about this incident.
“I cannot imagine anyone thinking what was done to Zeke was okay on any level, under any circumstances, and certainly not simply because there was a million dollars on the line,” Probst said. “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.”
YouTube star Jazz Jennings is part of the ranks of prominent transgender individuals doing their part to increase the community's visibility in the media. The teen activist appeared in Clean & Clear's digital campaign an stars in a TLC reality show about her life.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images
Former child star J.J. Totah came out as a transgender girl in am essay published by Time magazine. "My pronouns are she, her and hers. I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female. And my name is Josie Totah," Totah wrote.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
C Flanigan/FilmMagic
It was announced in July that transgender actress Nicole Maines had been cast as a transgender super hero, Nia Nal, who is described as "a soulful young transgender woman with a fierce drive to protect others" on The CW's "Supergirl."
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Ines Rau has become the first openly transgender woman to appear as a Playboy Playmate with her spread in the November/December 2017 issue.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
From Instagram
Gavin Rossum of the band LCD Soundsystem told Grindr in a July 2017 interview that she's been trying to come out fully as a trans woman for years.
Zeke Smith was outed as a transgender man on a controversial episode of "Survivor: Game Changers." The 29-year-old asset manager who lives in Brooklyn told People he struggled to forgive fellow contestant Jeff Varner who revealed the information during a Tribal Council.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
FROM vanity fair
Caitlyn Jenner, previously known as Bruce, revealed her new name and gender in Vanity Fair in June 2015. Jenner's announcement was called a watershed moment for transgender visibility. She appeared in the reality show "I Am Cait."
Photos: Transgender celebrities
Valerie Macon/Getty Images
Laverne Cox, who was cast as Frank-N-Furter in the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" remake, is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy. She appeared on the VH1 reality show "I Want to Work for Diddy" and later produced her own series, "TRANSform Me." She now portrays Sophia, a trans woman in prison, on the Netflix show "Orange Is the New Black." She received the Emmy nomination for that role.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Former male model Andrej Pejic revealed to People magazine in July 2014 that she has undergone sex reassignment surgery and is now Andreja.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Former "Drag Race" contestant Carmen Carrera wants to be the first transgender model to walk the runway for the Victoria's Secret fashion show.
Lana Wachowski was "Laurence" when she and her brother Andy directed films like "The Matrix."
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Producer/director Lilly Wachowski used to be Andy and transitioned after her sister Lana Wachowski.
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Chaz Bono transitioned from Chastity Bono, which is how many fans knew him when he appeared on his parents variety series, "The Sonny & Cher Show."
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Isis King was a contestant on the 11th and 17th cycles of "America's Next Top Model."
Photos: Transgender celebrities
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Lea T is a Brazilian/Italian who has served as a muse for the designer Givenchy. She revealed she was transgender in 2010.
He said he began watching “Survivor” at a time when he was dealing with both depression and transitioning.
“So significant was the experience that I remember where I watched Episode 1 of ‘Survivor: Cook Islands;’ I remember the date, May 2, 2010.” Smith wrote. “I remember distinctly Jeff Probst’s opening line, ‘You are watching 20 Americans begin an adventure that will forever change their lives.’ I was hooked.”
Smith said moving to New York where people knew him only as “Zeke” was “tremendously liberating.”
“A person’s gender history is private information and it is up to them, and only them, when, how, and to whom they choose to disclose that information,” he wrote. “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.”
Varner tweeted an apology after the episode aired, calling it “the worst decision of my life.”
“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,” Varner wrote in a statement he posted.
“Let me be clear, outing someone is assault,” he added. “It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger.”
While the show was filmed eight months ago, Smith told People he struggles with forgiving Varner.
“I don’t think (Varner) hates trans people. I just think he has a lot of misconceptions about trans people,” Smith said. “I think if he wants to be an ally to trans people, he has a long way to go.”
