Home : TV, Wacky & Weird, Reality TV : Did "Survivor" Lunch Lady Lie to Swipe $50K?

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

Posted Dec 18th 2007 12:57PM by TMZ Staff

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?!



Comments [192]
SHARE |
4ie6

Reader Comments

(Page 6 of 13) Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

76. Do any of you people use your head when you read this crap. She had no way of knowing about the 50,000 bucks It was a live decission on the finale by the producers She had no way of knowing The following day she was on the national news appologizing to the school and the producers along with all of us. She forgot about the job applicationa dn when she changed jobs an even better job she thought she was being punished because she didnt get to see the kids and longer nor her own kids as much You people are stuck in the check out line looking at tabloids to much there is no conspiracy and I give her kudos for wanting to make her family better. Any one of you would have took the money after losing the finale Stop feeding into the clebrity BS on here

Posted at 9:36AM on Dec 19th 2007 by BOBBY61557

77. Like a fool - - I felt sorry for the lunchlady, and was hoping she'd win. But playing the "POOR ME" game all along,
they shouldn't given her the $50K. She should donate it to the school that she BADMOUTHED ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Posted at 9:41AM on Dec 19th 2007 by Survivorjunkie

78. How PATHETIC is she? Return the Money NOW and then spend the rest of your life with your head in a toilet where it belongs! I knew something "smelled" Denise whined to Amanda on how her life sucked and then to lie on National TV about her "demotion" and not having dinner with her family and not seeing a field hockey game - boo hoo! It's DISGUSTING how people will play the sympathy card! Great lesson to teach your kids - getting something for nothing and not being deserving - let's all lie and cheat!

Posted at 9:54AM on Dec 19th 2007 by SoCal

79. She looked like Fred Flintstone toward the end of the show. Mr. Slate ought to fire her.

Posted at 9:54AM on Dec 19th 2007 by bluesunshine

80. She should donate the money to something like a Children's Hospital Free Care Fund.
See, you get a little fame, apparently you get addicted and want more reasons to be on TV!!
For shame Miss artin, for shame

Posted at 10:08AM on Dec 19th 2007 by MerryMary

81. She's a CRUNT! I knew when I see mullet.

Posted at 7:34PM on Dec 19th 2007 by C. Chang

82. Well the game is outwit, outlast, outplay. She was still playing the game.

Posted at 10:03AM on Dec 19th 2007 by Jeramiah

83. Survivor is a show built on schemes and lies. You have to lie and scheme to stay alive on the show. Seems to me Denise just continued with her survivor skills on the final show of the season. Isn't that what survivor is all about, winning the money?

Posted at 10:06AM on Dec 19th 2007 by former lunch lady

84. Either job has to suck. Just leave her alone.

Posted at 10:11AM on Dec 19th 2007 by SuzfrmMO

85. The entire Survivor series of shows is based on who can be the best liar, back stabber, traitor, etc, etc... Its what the show expects of people to increase the show ratings.... I think its great that somebody pulled the ultimate lie off and grabbed 50 grand out of them..lol

Posted at 12:31PM on Dec 19th 2007 by Steve

86. Oh how self righteous are you people? Even with the promotion, she's still a custodian for a school. Not exactly a 6 figure job, is it? She did what she had to do to make her family's life a little better. I would probably have done the same if I was in her position. She did steal anything. America didn't have to vote to give it to her. How classless (no pun intended, I swear) of the school to out this woman like that. What did they have to lose from this little white lie?

Posted at 10:23AM on Dec 19th 2007 by KimmyG

87. I felt bad for her. All ugly AND slow. Now she's just another lying piece of crap. Bad karma really sucks when comes back.

Posted at 10:26AM on Dec 19th 2007 by terri

88. I have worked in the schools for over 20 years and believe me, snagging a Costodial position is not a bad thing. Much better pay than working kitchen detail and sometimes more than teachers make. As far as Denise goes, she was a pathic whiner throughout the entire season. Winning Survivor should not be based on need or lying. It should be based on the person who could really survive in the wild.

Posted at 10:31AM on Dec 19th 2007 by In the know

89. SO FREAKING WHAT?? She had no idea Burnett was going to give her that money.

AND, is she not working nights instead of days? Is she not working as a custodian? I don't believe going from lunch lady to custodian merits a $10.00 an hour raise. I believe the story is somewhere in the middle and Denise had to appear and apologize in order to keep her job.

Posted at 10:29AM on Dec 19th 2007 by B. Snyder

90. Being a lunch lady does NOT suck. I love what I do. However, Denise said she was sorry. She needs to keep the money that was given to her. She did not ask for it. I'm sure she will put it to good use. Working for a school is not the the most glamorous job, but it is very rewarding!

Posted at 10:36AM on Dec 19th 2007 by cathy

Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments