Survivor contestant Jeff Varner has apologized for outing transgender contestant Zeke Smith on this week's episode of the reality show.

The 50-year-old southern realtor took to Twitter with a message as outraged fans watched the drama unfold calling it the 'worst thing anybody has done in the history of the show'.

'Yep. I did that. And I offer my deepest, most heartfelt apologies to Zeke Smith, his friends and life allies, his family and to all those who my mistake hurt and offended,' Varner began.

Sorry: Jeff Varner issued a grovelling apology on Wednesday as the Survivor episode aired showing the moment he outed fellow contestant Zeke Smith as transgender

'Outing someone is assault': Varner wrote an extended apology as fans expressed their outrage on social media

'I recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew,' he continued. 'I was wrong and make no excuses for it. I own responsibility in what is the worst decision of my life.

Clearly understanding the gravity of what he did, Varner continued, 'Let me be clear, outing someone is assault. It robs a strong, courageous person of their power and protection and opens them up to discrimination and danger,' he wrote.

'It can leave scars that haunt for a lifetime. I am profoundly sorry. Zeke is a wonderful man and I will forever be amazed and inspired by his forgiveness and compassion.I thank God for that and the gift of being an example as to why you should never do what I did.'

Shocking moment: Varner outed Zeke by demanding 'Why haven't you told anyone you're transgender?' before suggesting that it meant the 28-year-old had the 'ability to deceive'

Wrong move: The 50-year-old southern realtor was evicted after his attempt to avoid being kicked off the show backfired

Varner concluded his message writing, 'We cisgender Americans live with an enormous amount of privilege and should spend time pondering how we can use that for greater good. When we disrespect or discriminate, or turn blind eyes to it, we wound all of us. I am deeply saddened at what my mistake unleashed and I promise to use its lessons to do the right thing.'

Meanwhile, Zeke reflected on the incident in a piece for The Hollywood Reporter where he shared that he has been able to forgive Varner to a certain extent, but won't forget.

'When he said what he said, he changed both of our lives forever,' he wrote.

'When he pulled me in for a hug, I felt compelled to reciprocate, both as a sign that I was willing to forgive him and that the shots he had fired missed.

The worst! Viewers were outraged at what Varner had done

Fan favorite: In a piece for The Hollywood Reporter Zeke said he'd forgiven Varner but wouldn't forget

'While I can reconcile the personal slight of him outing me, I continue to be troubled by his willingness to deploy such a dangerous stereotype on a global platform. But forgiveness does not require friendship. Forgiveness does not require forgetting or excusing his actions. Forgiveness requires hope. … I have hope for Jeff Varner. I just choose to hope from afar, thank you very much.'

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly Radio on Thursday Varner admitted he's been having a lot of therapy since filming.

'I have spent 10 months stewing in this awful, horrible mistake I have made,' Varner said.

'I have been through, I don't know how much therapy. With the show's therapist, with a local therapist. I have met with and spoken to several LGBT organizations — I've joined the board of a couple of them…. this has changed me drastically.'

On what's left of his friendship with Zeke now, Varner said: 'We’ve spoken several times on the phone. He continually forgives me. I am amazed and moved at his ability to do that. I know that forgiveness is difficult. I know that he has a lot of people in his ear. I know that watching this last night was traumatic not only for me and my family — I can only imagine what this was like for him and his friends and everybody who loves him.'

Varner was dramatically evicted on Wednesday night's episode of the Game Changers series.

In a move that backfired, Varner encouraged his fellow contestants to cast a more critical eye on Zeke. Turning to the 28-year-old, he posed a question: 'Why haven't you told anyone you are transgender?'

Zeke had kept his gender identity a secret, Varner told his fellow contestants, which proved that he could not be trusted in the game.

'It reveals the ability to deceive,' he told them.

Host: Jeff Probst was not impressed by what he saw from Varner

Take your torch: Probst then made an executive decision that there would be no vote and Varner would be the next to leave the island

Speaking to host Jeff Probst, Varner soon seemed to grasp that he'd made a terrible mistake, and attempted to backtrack.

'I'm not saying, Jeff, that transgender people are deceptive,' he said, to which Probst scoffed: 'You're saying that by not revealing it, he's capable of deception. That's a giant leap of logic. Do you honestly not see that?'

Probst then made an executive decision that there would be no vote and Varner would be the next to leave the island.

'We don't need to vote, just grab your torch,' he told Varner.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Probst explained that he knew he had to take decisive action when the events unfolded.

'In 34 seasons of Survivor, I have rarely, if ever, personally commented on what is said or done in the game. But this is a unique situation that falls outside the normal boundaries.

'I cannot imagine anyone thinking what was done to Zeke was okay on any level, under any circumstances, and certainly not simply because there was a million dollars on the line,' he said.

Getting nasty: 'It reveals the ability to deceive,' Varner told the other contestants about Zeke as he tried to take the eviction target off his back

Accusation: Zeke had kept his gender identity a secret, Varner told his fellow contestants, which proved that he could not be trusted in the game

Not impressed: Zeke listened to what was being said, as they all sat in surprise and disbelief

'I think the response from the tribe, as it so often does, mirrors what the vast majority of society will feel. You just don't do that to someone.'

The current US season of the show, its 34th, is Survivor: Game Changers and brings together a group of popular former contestants in the show to do battle with each other in a bid to win $1 million.

Through this season's six episodes to date Smith and Varner, who both openly identify as gay men, have forged a close friendship.

However, as he left the show after betraying his friend, Varner broke down in tears as he admitted his mistake.

'Nobody on this planet should do what I did tonight - ever,' he said. 'And I am so sorry to anybody I offended, especially Zeke, and his family and his friends. I can't talk. I'm sorry,' he said. He also tweeted a more thorough apology as the episode screened.

Hugged it out: Zeke dealt with the situation graciously as Varner was evicted

Unreal! There were a number of shocked tweets

After taking some time to compose himself, Zeke spoke to his fellow contestants, explaining why he'd, until that point, kept his gender identity private.

'There are questions people ask. People want to know about your life and they want to know about this and that. It sort of overwhelms everything else that they know about you … One of the reasons why I didn't want to lead with that is I didn't want to be, like, the trans Survivor player. I wanted to be Zeke the Survivor player.'

'It's really not cool,' he said of Varner outing him on television adding, 'But... I'm fine.'

Several of the other contestants became extremely emotional as they grappled with what he'd done to Zeke.

Horrified viewers took to social media, echoing the sentiments of those on the show.

Smith gave a neatly timed interview to People about his history and why he didn't reveal being trans on the show.

Proud: This fan of the show was there in support of Zeke

Speechless: Fans of the show said it was 'lower than low'

He says he was open about being transgender with the show's producers in his audition, but opted not to discuss it while filming.

'When you tell people you're trans, you get two reactions: Either they look at you funny and pull back, or they go, 'Aww, that must be so hard,'' he said. 'I'm a goofy, fun-loving guy, so neither of those reactions work well for me.'

In recent months, he has sent his social media followers into a spin by posting very cosy shots with Millennials cast mate Hannah Shapiro.

They regularly post photos suggesting they're more than just friends, but refuse to confirm or deny the speculation to intrigued fans.

It appears they do enjoy fanning the flame, however; they have discussed an 'engagement' and 'wedding' and even created their own hashtag: #Heke.

In his introduction video on season 33 of Survivor: Millennials vs Gen X, Zeke says he came out as gay at the age of 15.

In the new issue of People, it is reported he transitioned from a woman to a man while he studied religion at Harvard University.

He tells the publication he felt depressed during his transition and decided to set his sights on competing in Survivor in the hope of becoming 'the man I wanted to be'.



He did not reveal if he is attracted to men or women.

Zeke was raised in Oklahoma and now lives in Brooklyn, New York where he works in asset management.