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'Survivor' Contestant Caught In A Lie, Serves Up Apology

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The Associated Press

Published: December 20, 2007

NEW YORK - A school lunchroom worker who gained fame as a contestant on CBS' reality show "Survivor: China" wasn't telling the truth when she claimed during Sunday's season finale that she had been demoted to janitor, her boss says.
Denise Martin of Douglas, Mass., finished fourth in the competition, missing out on the $1 million grand prize.

"They didn't give me my job back," Martin, 40, said during the live broadcast. "I'm a janitor now. I clean the toilets. I wash the floors in the bathrooms. I vacuum the kids' rugs."

Producer Mark Burnett surprised Martin with $50,000 to help get her life back. But Martin may have some damage control to do when she returns to work.

In an interview Tuesday on CBS' "The Early Show," Douglas Schools Superintendent Nancy Lane said Martin had been promoted, at her own request, in late March to custodian, a job that came with more benefits and higher pay.

"We granted her a leave to go to participate in 'Survivor.' And did everything possible to support her," Lane said. "And when she returned, she, of course, returned to the position that she left. Which is the custodial position."

"That's perfectly accurate, yes," Martin said in response.

Martin said she decided while she was taping "Survivor" that she wanted to go back to her lunchroom position. Lane said the job was no longer available, but Martin could apply when there is an opening.

"It was not my intention to be misleading," Martin said. "I'm sorry, and I apologize to everybody."

Will she accept the $50,000 if it is still offered to her?

"I had no idea that I was going to be awarded that," she said. "I did not do this for myself. I've done this for my family. I've done this for my town."

Margaret Reed, chairwoman of the School Committee, said she was puzzled by Martin's story.

"Everyone was cheering her on," Reed said. "And then we get this slap in the face."

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