Did "Survivor" Lunch Lady Lie to Swipe $50K?

The "Survivor: China" lunch lady who said she'd been demoted to "cleaning toilets" by her school, and got $50,000 of sympathy cash from the show because of her story, is having her tale flushed out -- by the school.

As EW.com reported yesterday, Douglas, Mass. School Superintendent Nancy T. Lane said in a statement that Denise Martin actually got promoted from "cafeteria employee" to "custodian" -- at a higher salary and with better benefits before she appeared on "Survivor." Lane says, "I watched my own jaw drop when [Martin] said that, because it's absolutely not true."

Today, Martin appeared with Lane on CBS' "The Early Show," and apologized profusely for what she said, though she stopped short of admitting that she'd lied to get the money, and won't give back the $50K. Mark Burnett Productions didn't return a call for comment, though CBS said yesterday, "If these statements were misleading or false, we hope that she will take immediate and public steps to clarify her remarks."

Now, how about a nice big helping of that tasty Sloppy Joe?!



Reader Comments

(Page 13 of 13) Previous 15 Comments

181. True she didn't say anything about money, she also didn't say anything about requesting a transfer to the janitors position prior to the show. she simply made it sound as though she was working as the lunch lady when she left for the show, and after the show was over she was no longer the lunch lady and now had to clean toilets. how is this not deception.

Posted at 5:27PM on Dec 19th 2007 by Eric

182. good for her there is a conscience after all
`Survivor: China' lunch lady says she'll donate $50,000 gift
http://www.examiner.com/a-1113739~_Survivor__China__lunch_lady_says_she_ll_donate__50_000_gift.html

Posted at 6:05PM on Dec 19th 2007 by Eric

183. tALKABOUT GETTING YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!! sHE WAS NOT PLAYING THE GAME WHEN SHE TOLD HER LIES! THE SHOW WAS ALREADY OVER AND THEN SHE STARTED HER PITY PARTY! SHE SAID "SHE GOT ACTUALLY GOT DEMOTED FROMTHE LUNCH ROOM TO CLEANING TOLIET,MOPPING FLOORS AND CLEANING KIDS MATS!SHE HAD ALREADY GOT THE PROMATION BEFORE SHE WENT ON THE SHOW IT WAS HER CHOICE TO GO BACK TO THE LUNCH ROOM SHE DID NOT NEED ALL THE EXTRA MONEY AND YES THEY PAY GOOD MONEY FOR THE JANITORIAL WORK AND SHE WAS TO GET THAT $10.OO RAISE WHEN SHE RETURNED TO WORK AS THE CLEANING "LADY"SHE DID NOT DESERVE THAT MONEY,SHE DID NOT BUST HER ASS ANYMORE THAN THE OTHERS.SHE IS A PITY PARTIER AND WANTS PEOPLE TO FEEL SORRY FOR HER AND THAT IS JUST WHAT THE CREW OF THE SURVIORS DID!SHE APPARENTLY HAS SO MANY SNOWED AND ONE HAS TO REMEMBER THE SHOW WAS OVER WHEN SHE TOLD HER "LIE"SHE DOES NOT CARE,SHE GOT WHAT SHE WANTED AND SHE KNEW HOW TO GET IT,SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO GET THE VOTES THAT JAMES GOT! GLAD HE GOT MONEY,HE DESERVED IT,HE WAS HONEST AND HARD WORKING.THE NAME OF THE GAME IS STRADEGY AND THERE WAS SOME THAT KNEW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME ,SHE IS ONE THAT DID NOT!!!

Posted at 10:20PM on Dec 19th 2007 by candi girl

184. Denise didn't say she was DEMOTED...she said they didn't give her the old job back, and she was now working nights, and having no time with her family...she didnt say they were paying her less, get your story straight TMZ before you hurt a good person like Denise Martin. Leave her alone, focus on Britney's crotch.

Posted at 11:08PM on Dec 19th 2007 by Chris

185. Burnett does not need that money she does and she better not give it back. All you jealous ass fat ass people get off your butts and go on Survivor maybe you can get 50,000 too stop being so jealous and hateful. She deserved it and so what how she had to get it. This country Sucks 20% of us are filthy rich and they dont care about the other 80%. Its ridiculous for these people to be geeting so much money. That is a dollar to Mark Burnetts ass he doesnt even care about that crap. Why should you guys its not your money no its just that people dont want to see poor people with nothing, people are so envious and hateful.These filthy rich people should make it a habbit to give money to the poor every dam day. Bloomberg made 6 Billion dollars in 2007 what the hell does his old ass need that money for. But America supports this kind of Capitalism but cant give veterans their benefits. Athletes make millions on top of millions for what.. This country sucks and they taught everybody to be greedy mean uncaring farts. 6 billion can build a state can end homelessness no the old farts just put it in their bank account and try to double it next year. This place is sick and you greedy jealous bastards will go to hell, because it just doesnot make sense what is going on. Thats why we are becoming the poorest country fast stupids share the wealth.

Posted at 8:00AM on Dec 20th 2007 by Jersey

186. If it's a horrible little town, Denise (AKA mullet lunch MAN) can afford to MOVE AWAY now with her $50,000 !!! ha!

She may have to move away just to get away from the shame, embarassment and the MULLET HEAD remarks! "I keep my hair this way for my husband" Yeh, it's dead sexy! NOT !!!!

Posted at 10:11AM on Dec 20th 2007 by lulu

187. I call the change of job a demotion, lunch lady over cleaning bathrooms. Reguardless of the $$. Let her keep the money, she earned it. Veronica

Posted at 12:47PM on Dec 20th 2007 by veronica

188. OMG.... THIS BRING'S SORE LOSER TO ANOTHER LEVEL...NOT LIKE SHE DESERVED TO EVEN COME IN 4TH,,SHE SKATED THE WHOLE SHOW..

Posted at 4:55PM on Dec 20th 2007 by MIKE

189. How did she "Earn" the money??? She didn't do anything the other people on the didn't do? So they should all get $50,000 "sympathy" money because they lost too?! DOH! Nah, she's just a "lunch lady" or "janitor" whatever. That doesn't mean she deserves an extra $50,000. She started using her crappy job as an excuse early on in the show as a sympathy card (playing victim). If she doesn't like her job or her position in life, let her DO something about it instead of complaining and being a victim! That would set an example for her kids instead of LYING to get money !!!

Posted at 4:31PM on Dec 20th 2007 by lulu

190. Does anyone know if there is any truth to the rumor that she and James were involved in a little hanky panky during the show?

Posted at 6:16PM on Dec 20th 2007 by Bobcheesedoodle

191. I HATE THAT SHOW SURVIVOR. WHERE DO THEY FIND THOSE PEOPLE??????????

Posted at 10:20AM on Dec 21st 2007 by Disgusted

192. When playing the Survivor game, all or most players lie to win the game. What makes Denise any different. NOTHING, she was playing the game.

Posted at 3:31PM on Dec 21st 2007 by Val Kilpatrick

Previous 15 Comments