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Survivor aired a scene that never should have been made public. And fans are furious.

 

Spoilers for US Survivor: Game Changers ahead.

The latest episode of Survivor: Game Changers is under fire after one of the participants was outed as transgender during the tribal council.

The shocking move is being considered by many fans as the worst moment in all 34 seasons of the US show.

Southern realtor Jeff Varner, 50, told the other members of the tribe that writer Zeke Smith, 29, was hiding his identity as a transgender man.

“Why haven’t you told anyone you are transgender?” He asked Zeke.

Varner posed the question as a way to prove to the other contestants that Smith was capable of lying and could therefore not be trusted.

“It reveals the ability to deceive,” he said.

Jeff on the left and Zeke on the right. (Source: CBS.)
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Smith sat in stunned silence as the other tribe members reacted to the news. It was a truly upsetting moment for anyone to witness, let alone somebody who understands the difficulty in revealing one's gender identity.

The 50 year old soon realised the gravity of the situation and apologised for his remarks.

But the damage had been done and host Jeff Probst declared there would be no vote, Varner could simply take his torch and leave the island.

“We don’t need to vote, just grab your torch,” he said.

The reveal sent shock waves through the audience who shared their feelings on social media.

Varner's decision to out Smith may be explained by last week's shock elimination of Sandra Diaz-Twine, a move that was largely instigated by Smith.

Diaz-Twine, like Varner and Smith, had been an extremely successful contestant in past Survivor seasons.

Varner told host Jeff Probst before he made the shock reveal that he already believed he would be voted off.

A post shared by Zeke Smith (@zekerchief) on

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Smith wrote in a guest column for Hollywood Reporter that he was "not wild" about fans knowing he was transgender.

The 29-year-old said he wanted to be admired for his abilities and not his gender identity.

"I wanted the show to desire me as a game player and an eccentric storyteller, not as "The First Trans Survivor Player,'" he wrote.

The reveal sent shock waves through the audience who shared their feelings on social media.

Varner has since released a public apology on social media that further apologises and recognises his privilege as a cisgender male.

"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, " he wrote.

Survivor: Game Changers continues to air its 34th Season in the US.

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