1 Year Later, 'Survivor' Star Zeke Smith Reflects on Being Outed as Trans on TV

In a new essay published in The Hollywood Reporter, "Survivor" star Zeke Smith reflects on being outed as transgender during the show's Tribal Council a year ago.

The shocking moment came during a Tribal Council segment - an open forum of sorts where the players discuss who they want to vote off the show - on the all-stars edition, "Survivor: Game Changers." That's when fellow contestant Jeff Varner, who is openly gay, unexpectedly outed Smith as trans. In his new essay, Smith says his experience since the incident has been a positive one. He writes that most "Survivor" fans and people from his Oklahoma hometown, where he was once "chased out with torches and pitchforks" have treated him well.

Smith writes in THR:

Now I return as a bit of a favorite son. I take pictures with children in Bible school t-shirts.

I have not had a single negative encounter. Sometimes fans remember the incident. Sometimes they don't. Heck, sometimes they don't even remember my name. To them, I am the guy from 'Survivor,' to whom they can ask their most burning question about their favorite show: What's the deal with pooping?

Smith also ends his essay with a message of hope:

Transitioning is a massive obstacle that they are confronting at a very young age. They're going to stumble and, at times, it will be messy. But if I can give them hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel, then just maybe they'll get through it with their heads held high. Then they will have this experience to rely upon when they face challenges in the future. Should these boys look out in the world today and not see a place for themselves, should they resent the headlines, should they desire a new ending to the story, I hope that they themselves will resolve to change the search result.

Click here to read the "Survivor" star's full piece.