Zeke Smith from Survivor Millennials vs. Gen X and Game Changers is one 21 transgender creatives to speak about Hollywood representation.
Beyond the first ten seasons of Survivor, there have been just a few standout moments on the show where events that occur become national stories or headlines. One of the most recent moments was when Millennials vs. Gen X and then Game Changers player Zeke Smith was outted by another player as transgender.
It was covered both nationally and internationally, although the harsh moment itself offered up an opportunity for a light to shine brightly. In collaboration with GLAAD, CBS and the SEG (Survivor Entertainment Group), the episode in question was edited in the most honest, uplifting way possible to speak truth to power to the experience of attacks on transgender men.
The episode in question received a GLAAD award, but that moment alone has not stopped questionable decisions in Hollywood surrounding trans men’s representation. Zeke Smith spoke to The Hollywood Reporter as part of a larger feature exploring the exit of Scarlett Johansson from the movie Rub & Tug.
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An interesting aspect of the video above is how the production and those in power at CBS knew that they were not in a good position to tell Zeke Smith’s story adequately without bringing him onboard to help properly showcase everything involved in that episode. “This is what trans people have been clamoring for; the ability to participate to learn, and that’s what I got. I am the positive example.”
A great deal of the piece at large focuses on transgender representation in Hollywood, but it’s still great to see that Zeke left the moment in time with Survivor as positive an experience as possible. He discussed the lack of exploitative headlines following the episode and feels like “I was, and still am, part of the Survivor family.”
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Those who involve themselves with reality television as contestant can’t really know the extent of how publically they will be viewed from their time on these shows, and not nearly anyone else has had a similar experience to what happened during that time in Game Changers. The entire piece at The Hollywood Reporter is a compelling read, and we’re grateful that Zeke offered up his thoughts within.