Survivor "Lunch Lady" Cooks Up Apology, Cedes $50K

Denise Martin by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS

In the wake of the flap she caused by negatively spinning the circumstances of her back-home job situation during Sunday's Survivor: China reunion show, Denise Martin has issued a mea culpa, saying, "I would like to apologize to Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst, CBS, [school superintendent] Nancy Lane, the Town of Douglas [Mass.] and my friends and family. It was not my intention to mislead anyone. I take full responsibility for my actions and hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive me."

As for the $50,000 in feel-better funds she was surprised with by host man Jeff Probst, Martin says, "I do not feel comfortable about accepting [it]. I would instead ask that it be donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation." A CBS rep confirms that the money will indeed be earmarked for the charity.

Related:
• Survivor's "Lunch Lady" Served Up Lies, Says School

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Survivor: China

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Dec 19, 2007 11:58 AM

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what a joke!!!! this makes me feel so less worse for her and the comments that courtney made about welfare are even funnier now!
Posted by jppuertorico85 Dec 19, 2007 12:50 PM Report Abuse

I don't get why she did this knowing that the story could be refuted. It made the school look bad, so of course they would defend themselves. Now she looks bad, and doesn't have the money.
Posted by marcilynnj Dec 19, 2007 12:56 PM Report Abuse

I was rooting for Denise, but in spite of my better judgement, since she seemed like such a dumb*ss so often during Survivor. She just made some ill-conceived decisions, and this is just the latest example of her dimwittedry.

My guess is she was trying to put a little pressure on her employers to give her her old job back (a job that *duh* didn't exist anymore because they'd filled the position). I don't imagine that she was looking for a handout from Mark Burnett. She's just not suave enough to have done what she was trying to do very effectively.

For someone who was popular during the season, she really blew that good will. Sheesh.

Posted by Calamity Jane

Dec 19, 2007 1:40 PM

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I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt and assuming she didn't intend to mislead everyone to the degree she did. I'm happy she's refusing the money -- she's not a charity case. The real charity will make good us of the $50k.
Posted by rokergirl Dec 19, 2007 1:42 PM Report Abuse

Any one can make a mistake - it's how we learn from it that counts. I'm saddened that Denise misled her situation but grateful for the charity she chose. I think she probably learned a lot from Survivor - in ways she didn't expect.
Posted by sabiobabe Dec 19, 2007 2:15 PM Report Abuse

She should give that money back. I am sure she did not know they were going to give it to her - but she outright lied when she gave the sob story about losing her job. Giving up ones job, then changing your mind but not being able to get the original one back is not the same as losing your job.
Posted by mryjhnsn2 Dec 19, 2007 3:11 PM Report Abuse

The dirty little secret is that $50,000 is the exact payout for the fourth place finisher in every "Survivor" season. So that's how much her "pay" for being on "Survivor" was anyway. The offer from Burnett must have been in addition to that.
Posted by MahlerFan Dec 19, 2007 3:37 PM Report Abuse

She definitely needed to give the money to charity after misleading the public. I guess the question begs, what were you thinking?
Posted by Spider-Man Dec 19, 2007 3:46 PM Report Abuse

What a nut job! Ha! Who cares if the school looks bad! I wouldn't care! She should worry about herself! Ha!
Posted by tvgdsux Dec 19, 2007 5:30 PM Report Abuse

What is this "didn't intend to mislead" stuff? She flat out lied - she said she got demoted and that wasn't true. I had precious little respect for her before, since she was such a poor strategist, and now I have even less respect for her. What an idiot.
Posted by jddlas Dec 19, 2007 6:24 PM Report Abuse

How pathetic. Another Johnny Rotten. She should be ashamed of herself.
Posted by Rockermom Dec 19, 2007 8:00 PM Report Abuse

Even giving that $50K to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Foundation isn't enough to get back people's goodwill. I am sure it will be tough to hold her head high in her hometown, and it will be years before this will be forgotten. She did it to herself and I have no pity for her - she will always be remembered as a liar and a whiner. Time to join the leper colony....
Posted by Melissa Dec 19, 2007 9:21 PM Report Abuse

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