Survivor is known for its thrilling puzzles and gruesome living conditions and has managed to maintain the same level of quality since the last two decades. In this some players have gone down in history for playing the game to the best of their abilities. Others have stirred nothing but controversy with their participation in the competitive reality show.
And in this Jeff Varner can definitely give Richard Hatch a run for his money. In order to save himself from elimination Varner pulled a major stunt on the show, that left host Jeff Probst absolutely enraged.
Jeff Probst Left Furious When Jeff Varner Ousted Another Player for His Personal Gain
Everybody wants to create history on Survivor, but some take this to a whole new level that too in a very negative light. While the doings of Richard Hatch and Dan Spilo is known to many, another contestant is not far behind when it comes to being a controversial Survivor figure. Jeff Varner entered the show in Survivor: The Australian Outback, and quickly became an integral part of the Kucha Alliance.
However, he was soon eliminated from the show when a deadlock between him and fellow contestant Colby Donaldson happened at the Tribal Council. But his journey with the show was far from over and he made a return almost 15 year’s later in Survivor: Cambodia. This time he was more aggressive in the game but was voted out on Day 11 of the show.
Varner came back again for a third time in Survivor: Game Changers and gathered attention but for all the wrong reasons. It was evident from the early on itself that he was ready to do everything to keep himself in the game. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, he openly questioned fellow contestant Zeke Smith on why he hasn’t told the rest of the participants that he was transgender.
If this was not enough, he also went on to add that Smith hid the information to deceive others. After this confrontation everyone at the Tribal Council was shocked to their core as to what just unfolded in front of them. This also pushed Jeff Probst’s buttons who said:
There’s no question who’s going home tonight, right? (After an immediate consensus, Probst told Varner) We don’t need to vote, just grab your torch.
Varner tried everything to stay in the game, which in turn became the pivotal reason why he was shown the door for the third time as well. After the show he has reflected on his statements and also apologized for whatever he said during the Tribal Council.
Colton Cumbie Left Jeff Probst Fuming With His Actions
Colton Cumbie had quite an interesting journey on Survivor, that fans won’t forget any time soon. Known as the player who quit the show twice, he managed to spark intense drama, one also included Jeff Probst’s blunt response. Cumbie started his Survivor journey with One World and quickly garnered a negative image due to his comments about fellow player Bill Posley.
Some even saw him as “entitled” as well as outright “racist” via Vulture. His time was cut short in this season when the show’s medical professionals pulled him from the game.
He was initially informed that he had appendicitis, but later confirmed via E! News that he had a severe of “bacterial infection.” On his exit he added:
When you watch the show you think I’m evil … But in my personal life, there haven’t been any people who have attacked me … They all say, ‘You’re really not like you are in television!
Learning from his past mistakes, he entered the show again in Survivor: Blood vs. Water but pulled the same stunt again and quit the show for the second time. However, this time Jeff Probst had enough of his shenanigans and said via Today:
Lots of people like to watch adventure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they should get up off the couch. And I’m now convinced that Colton is the guy who never should have got up off the couch. I won’t give you the honor of throwing that in the urn. We’ll keep that reserved for people who compete.
Probst made it clear that the spot on the show is reserved for those who actually want to complete in the show, showcasing his frustration. So, in the list of most notorious Survivor player’s Cumbie also has a spot fixed for him.
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