Survivor Game Changers: Each player’s big game-changing moment

Jeff Varner – Going beyond the sanctity of the game

Varner thought he was making a desperate move to prove a hidden alliance between Ozzy Lusth and Zeke Smith. Instead, he changed the lives of two individuals and opened up an international conversation about trans rights.

Up until his elimination, Varner was a breath of fresh air. In the two previous times he played Survivor, he came painfully short of a jury spot. Instead of being an over the top personality, he played logical foil to Sandra’s ploys, including looking bug-eyed over her overt (but strategic) villainy. He seemed to be in a position to finally make

He seemed to be in a position to finally make the jury, but with his sole Nuku partner, Sandra, just eliminated and a tribal council approaching, Varner noted he had one last play to perform. Unjustly thinking America knew that Zeke was trans and the tribe didn’t, Varner argued that Zeke was capable of deception because he didn’t disclose his identity to his tribe.

At that moment, Varner changed the game from an irrecoverable level. Zeke was outted, Jeff committed a heinous, character-altering event and he destroyed Zeke’s chance of winning due to his perceived “story” at Final Tribal Council. He also left a dark mark on the season’s bitter memory.