While I completely agree with you and believe that it was Zeke's story to share, I still couldn't help but feel bad for Varner. He just seems like such a genuine person and I believe he regretted it the moment he said it. Zeke handled the whole thing like a champ.

I can't feel sorry for varner. Winning one million dollars over came any sense of humanity in him. He didn't have to go there never ever should have no matter what is at stake. I'm still to mad at this to give him a break. That was just so wrong.

What was he going to gain from revealing this? Deception? Well, this wasn't a well-kept secret, and I could tell when Zeke squatted down, he didn't have any junk. Jeff should have stayed the course, because it seemed as if he was making some headway with his first line of attack. Yet, he chose to out Zeke as his secret weapon. Wrong. It fell flat the moment it left his lips. I do think he was genuinely sad after what he said went out in the universe.

I think he realized how bad this was going to look and sound on national TV. Then he was sorry he said it.

That too, Jonnie. That was my original thought, but I wanted to leave a little room in there for his conscious.

It was sad and very uncomfortable to watch. But also a wonderful display on how our world has changed. 40-50 years ago people would have been appalled and disgusted. Now every single person there jumped to Zeke's defence and felt for him.
A pretty amazing narrative on acceptance.

I just don't get what varner thought that was going to do. Reject Zeke? Call him out as a liar? I'm glad everyone supported him. He went way beyond playing the game.

I wondered that myself. What was he trying to accomplish? What the heck did he thing was going to happen? SMH

Varner has said many times that he loves chaos and I think that was his motive. After some time to get past my initial outrage at what he did, I can believe that in the context of being hungry, exhausted and fighting for his life in the game he may have failed to grasp the greater consequences of his actions.

Doesn't excuse what he did, but possibly an explanation. It really wasn't even good TV. It was just so jaw droppingly uncomfortable.

I just felt so bad for Zeke being outed like that. The shock on his face is unforgettable. Varner robbed him of him being the one if he decided to tell or not. I agree wasn't good tv was just gut wrenching. There is chaos gameplay this wasn't that. I can't give varner a pass on it no matter how bad things were for him he knew going in what survivor is all about. I hope I never see him on survivor again.

@rainbowfeverish64 Don't get me wrong, I am not giving him a pass. I'm just trying to understand how this could have happened. Even after Probst called him on it he continued to try to justify it as a game move.

Off topic, but I have to say I miss the IMDB boards as I was a member for 17 years. But these boards seem so much friendlier. I've been a part of a few discussions where people didn't necessarily agree with one another, but the conversations don't seem to break down into all out nastiness. It seems to be a great forum of great people.

I understand your not giving him a pass on this no one should. Varner was just so wrong in this there really no explanation for it other than it is a terrible act on someone that has nothing to do with gameplay. Some awful things can't be explained.

It's a good example of "excuse" versus "explanation." An explanation is when you attempt to give reasons for your actions. BUT when you give an excuse, you're hoping to be excused for your actions. Posters here have given possible reasons for what he did. There's nothing wrong with pondering that. However, there will never, EVER be a good excuse for what he did.

He actually thought they would turn on him that's what is so crazy about this. Varner equated lying to being transgender and not telling people. That's so wrong. Varner stoled Zeke that from telling it his way to anyone he chose when he was ready to do it.