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

16. Found this interesting:

Janitor was promotion from lunch lady, admits reality show contestant
12/18/07

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Denise Martin, the former lunch lady who claimed she had been demoted to janitor after appearing on “Survivor: China,” acknowledged today that the hard-luck story she told in the reality show finale was not true.

Martin, who works in an elementary school in Douglas, Mass., appeared on the CBS "Early Show'' in a split screen with Schools Superintendent Nancy T. Lane in a segment dubbed "Survivor Scandal." As her voice cracked, Martin confirmed what Lane told the Globe on Monday -- that she had been promoted to a janitorial position before trying out for the show, a job that came with a $10-an-hour pay raise.

"It was not my intention to be misleading," Martin said from studio in Los Angeles. "Nancy has been outstanding to me. She has done everything possible. She has given me the leave of absences to be on the show."

"I'm sorry," Martin continued, sounding as though she was near tears. "And I apologize to everybody. Believe me, I wish none of this had happened. I couldn't say I’m sorry enough."

During the live broadcast of the show's finale Sunday, Martin told viewers she had been demoted from her $7-an-hour job as a lunch lady because she had become too popular at Douglas Intermediate Elementary School.

"They didn't give me my job back," said Martin, 40, who finished fourth in the reality show and missed the $1 million grand prize. "I'm a janitor now. I clean toilets. I wash the floors in the bathroom. I vacuum the kids' rugs."

The producer of "Survivor" responded on live television by surprising Martin with $50,000 to help "get her life back." The story sparked an avalanche of e-mails to Lane and the Douglas public schools, as thousands of viewers blasted the superintendent for being a "Scrooge" and ruining the country. The superintendent said today she was glad Martin acknowledged the truth.

"What I really what to do is make sure the community has a chance to realize that Denise is sorry," said Lane, who appeared from a television studio in New York City. "It really cast a negative light on the whole experience for the entire community. I feel badly for them."

Then the segment's moderator, Julie Chen, asked another question. "Denise, what about the $50,000 you got for what appeared to be a sob story?"

Martin stammered, but didn’t answer. "It was not in my intention," Martin said. "I had no idea I was going to be awarded that."

With eight seconds left in the segment, Chen pushed harder, asking whether she was going to keep the money. Martin shook her head from side to side but never said yes or no.

"I love my town," Martin said. "I love my community. Nancy does a great job."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/janitor_was_pro.html

Posted at 1:26PM on Dec 18th 2007 by JENSPAL

17. I would much rather work in the Cafeteria than scub toilets and clean up puke!!! I do not see how they consider that a promotion!!!

Posted at 1:24PM on Dec 18th 2007 by Andrea

18. I got sick of hearing her whine about practically everything and then she gets $50,000?!!? What a pathetic loser.

Posted at 1:25PM on Dec 18th 2007 by sophetta jackson

19. I felt she used her position in life to gain sympathy near the end of the show. Up until that time I believed she was "keeping it real" . I think the temptation of money breeds greed and can start a chain reaction to get at it no matter the personal cost. One she already had the adventure of a lifetime. She also lost a considerable amount of weight, which she probably would not have done on her own. She tried tears and lies at the end to tell Amanda, you have blah blah and Courtney has blah blah, I have nothing to go back to. I have no job. Hey people try this "hard work" to get what you need in life. There ain't no freebies in life.

Posted at 1:25PM on Dec 18th 2007 by jk

20. The reason why it was made public is because the school superintendant received thousands of e-mails from irate people as to why she was put in the position of custodian. She asked to be put in that position herself before ever going onto Survivor because she wanted more money and benefits. She went back to that very same position after Survivor was over. She knows how to go about getting a job as lunch lady if she wants to, but there aren't any openings now so she had to stay a janitor. She was a whiny player on Survivor also. And when she had the chance to change up the game, she didn't do it. She plays the victim card to get sympathy. "I was always picked last at everything." Well, guess why. You see yourself as a victim, Denise. Just saying, what comes around, goes around.

Posted at 1:35PM on Dec 18th 2007 by Nonie

21. Did any one notice when she lost weight her flesh started to hang...her legs looked like ham hocks and they didn' t show her that much in alot of competitions.

Posted at 1:31PM on Dec 18th 2007 by jajax

22. I'm saddened by it. I fell for her story and she was my favorite person on the show. I can't believe she went on LIVE tv and told a blatant lie. I can't believe she would take the money, knowing it was a big lie and that she could be exposed.
Greed is ugly and when a person just goes to such lengths to lie it just makes their whole situation look pathetic.
I dont know how she can keep it and not feel like a total turd for it.

Posted at 3:35PM on Dec 18th 2007 by michellle

23. That bitch is weird and weird looking, anyone that airs their private life like she did on Survivor is a LOSER! So what, she screwed up her life and focused on being a loser in life, so everyone, let's feel sorry for her, she was the only one who was still freakin FAT ASSED when the show was over. There are alot of men and women in this world, children, no children worse off, no job, cancer, maybe Survivor's big deal people should have considered helping them instead of helping some fat ass that could AFFORD to take off the time she did to do the show! This world is full of idiots!

Posted at 1:34PM on Dec 18th 2007 by People Suck

24. so maybe she is the ultimate survivor she lied to get the money and she did good for her

Posted at 1:47PM on Dec 18th 2007 by lise

25. I think the best way for Mrs. Martin to handle this sad situation would be to donate the $50,000 to a charity. There is no better way to make up for any deception during this holiday, than to give the money to someone who really needs it.

Posted at 1:37PM on Dec 18th 2007 by AngelUndercover

26. I was rooting for her after James got voted off, I'm sooo glad she did not win now. It always comes down to a few liars in the end.

Sosunaolata

Posted at 1:37PM on Dec 18th 2007 by Sosunaolata

27. I really wanted her to win until she started crying the blues to Amanda at the end....now after this I'm glad she didn't win...

anyone who has a kid or kids and goes on tv crying about what a lousy life they have is pathetic....if you have no pride at least think of your kids and how they have to face people after you act like that on tv

Posted at 1:40PM on Dec 18th 2007 by cc

28. Lunch Lady needs to take off the rubber gloves and get in touch with reality. Do the right thing, Lunch Lady--hand back the money and celebrate with a hot pocket. And your appearance on television this morning was lame. I was expecting a Pea-style admission of guilt, "My lies, my lies, my lunch lady lies."

Posted at 1:45PM on Dec 18th 2007 by wasted days and wasted nights

29. To Mary #5
Are you an idiot too? You really think it should of been handled out of the public? THAT BITCH MADE IT PUBLIC ON NATIONAL TV! She should be ashamed of her ugly self!

Posted at 1:46PM on Dec 18th 2007 by Whatever

30. The show is about outwitting, outlasting and outplaying which she did even after the show was over. Mark Burnett and CBS can spare the cash, let the poor woman keep her cash. People have done far worse on that show.

Posted at 1:53PM on Dec 18th 2007 by ChiZGal