Survivor – Denise Wins $50,000 for Playing the Sympathy Card!

Posted on Dec 17 2007 - 10:13am by Angela | 19 comments

Last night's finale of the highly popular reality television series, Survivor, has left some fans confused and others downright ticked off.

Todd Herzog, a 22-year old flight attendant from Utah, took home the title of sole Survivor, as well as the $1-million paycheck.

James, a 30-year-old grave-digger from Los Angeles, took home $100,000 after being chosen by fans as the favorite player of this season.

Denise Martin: Photo Credit: CBSAnd while many of the other contestants deserved a paycheck as well (Amanda and Courtney, considering they came in second and third), most went home empty-handed.

But in a shocking twist at last night's reunion, Denise Martin, a 40-year-old lunch lady, wife and mother, was granted $50,000 from Mark Burnett himself.

Denise, who was known for playing the sympathy card throughout the entire show (she would complain that she had "nothing to go back to" and "she was just a lunch lady"), ended up losing her job when she returned home after the show.

Denise currently works as a janitor at a school near her home.

And while it was a nice gesture on behalf of Mark Burnett and CBS, many fans feel it was unfair that Denise was given such a hefty amount of cash when there are plenty of other contestants (from this season and previous seasons) living in less-than-perfect circumstances.

Do you think it was fair that Denise received $50,000, considering she didn't even make the final three?

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

I can't believe she got that money just because she made everyone feel bad for her. I mean, there are a lot of people who need money but if they gave 50,000 to every contestant who needed it, the game would be boring because everyone would be winning hte money. It wasn't fair...maybe if she was runner up but she didn't even make it that far.

Joe (not verified)

I'm torn between whether or not I think it was a good idea to give her the money. WHile it's obvious that needs it, I think that someone who constantly makes people feel sorry for them shouldn't be awarded for doing that. Best of luck to her though.

Laurie (not verified)

I can't believe we're even debating this. Of course it was a good idea, she needs the money and it's going to help her. Mark Burnett has a ton of cash- it's not going to break his bank to give a little.

Jess (not verified)

Laurie, I don;t think anyone is denying the fact that contestants should be given more money or that there should be more of a reward in the game but to give it to one person in particular for no apparent reason (other than the fact that she was the only one who made her life seem so horrible) isn't really fair. We don;t even know what some of the other people have gone through - perhaps because they weren't outward enough to tell the whole world - that doesn't mean they aren't deserving of an extra 50 grand. I just dont think it was fair either.

Chris (not verified)

The whole time I was watching Denise give her sob story, I was wondering...what the hell does he husband do for a living? And earlier she was raving about how great her life was(when her husband came on the show). I do feel sorry for people that don't have much, but at the same time, I don't think they should have done that because it's just not fair to everyone else who has gone on the show and not won any money. And it could open up pandora's box of Kleenex's in the future, or at least put the producers in a tough position.

Pathetic (not verified)

Anyone who would object to her receiving the money needs to be checked in the head and heart. She wasnt playing the sympathy card she was being honest. She deserved everything she got.

Anonymous (not verified)

If you look at Denise's bio, it seems that she attempted pharmacy school at one time. Maybe she is miserable because she has been held back from her dreams due to financial circumtances. We all know by now that the producers of the show do extensive background checks on the contestants. I am sure that Mark Burnett would not have given Denise the money if he didn't feel that she deserved it. He probably felt that her appearance on the show as a contestant heped to earn him a great deal of money at her own considerable expense. What a shame that her boss considered her temporary status as a celebrity a 'distration'. God Forbid school children actually notice the people who 'serve' them on a daily basis for a change. I would consider people taking photos and autographs of the gravedigger at a family member's funeral more 'distracting' and more inappropriate than a lunch lady with a little notoriety. But that's just me. Wouldn't it be great to see everyone compenstated on a fair scale for how far they make it in the game? They give up a heck of a lot to participate in Survivor.

Anonymous (not verified)

I though I read somewhere that the contestants are compensated on how they finished. Maybe not this season. I heard that was the case for the Amazing Race also.

Anonymous (not verified)

http://www.douglas.k12.ma.us/ the district she works for has posted a statement contradicting her story. they say she applied for the janitor position as a promotion from lunch lady and that the district totally supported her taking a leave of absence to go on the show

Quartzeye (not verified)

Hold up there a minute buddy. The "lunch lady" job is considered a custodian as is the "toilet washer". She leaves a day job making minimum wage and when returns to work is placed in a night shift position in the same job class and pay. I would bet you would think it is a demotion even though technically it isn't. She lost her day job. The school can paint it anyway they want but I am positive any one in her position would feel that they were demoted. At the very least the school acted in bad taste.

Son of a lunch lady (not verified)

Quartzeye, I am sorry to inform you that you are in correct. My mother worked with Denise as a luch lady at the school. She worked with her through the time that she was doing the application for survivor. Denise left her position as a luch lady making more than $8 per hour on March 30th 2007 well before she was accepted to survior to apply for a janitorial union position to make more money. At that point intime the position as a cafeteria worker was not a union job and was not considered a janitor position. It wasnt until this year (after Denise returned from the show) that the works in the cafeteria where accepted into the union. On another note Denise chose to work a different shift as a janitor so she could open her own martial arts studio in her garage which is still unknown if it is being done legaly.

Anonymous (not verified)

I heard fourth place gets $50,000, 3rd 100,000 and 4th 250,000.

HEY! (not verified)

She's a 40 year old school custodian/lunchlady ...whatever... on an UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Give me a break, it's only $50,000. BIG UPS TO DENISE!

Rita (not verified)

I loved Denise from the moment I saw her on the show. She was honest and even though she didnt win a lot.. she tried her very hardest and she got far. If its true that she lied.. then shame on her, but I think it was great for the producers to have given her the 50,000. To me.. Denise is one of my favourite players on Survivor.

Rita (not verified)

Denise rules. She deserved that money for sure. She got further then James did and he had 2 idols. She did awesome and she should have got that money. She might not have won in a lot, but she tried and she got far. Go Denise go!

Chris (not verified)

I have never seen such a revolting sight as Denise in her bra & panties. Granted she lost weight but when she was pictured last night in China next to skeletal Courtney I almost lost my dinner.

Denise is REAL PEOPLE! (not verified)

Excuse me, man, I dare say anyone in that position would look pretty rough. I mean, this lady went to China for 39 days, stayed in the jungle, swam in a nasty river, had to drink I don't even know what, all while being stuck in the same clothes. And if you remember she was the only one who couldn't eat the bird thingy. In fact, none of the survivors were beauties. Like friggin' Jean Robert's shorts were always falling down showing his all-togethers. Talk about losing your dinner! Denise is the real McCoy. she's had my vote from day one.

Anonymous (not verified)

I liked Denise until I read all this crap about her lying about her job for sympathy sake. I no longer have any respect for her.

Anonymous (not verified)

On the school district site is a memo explaining the school districts side of the events. Denise joins the custodial staff at higher pay March 30, 2007 prior to getting an unpaid leave. When she returned she got her custodials staff job back. She requested a position on the cafeteria staff and was denied due to no position being available. Her current position is second shift and she works during the time her children have after school activities so she misses these events. Life is not always easy some time we have to sacrifice to make ends meet or get ahead in our job. Did Denise deserve an extra $50 grand because of things in her life. Maybe or maybe not. I am sure there are thousands of other people who would love to have Denise's life even without the extra $50 grand from Survivor.