Survivor Denise's sob story...what a crock(Spoilers about reunion show)

[Tazicket]

Did Denise explain on the Early Show WHY she would say the school asked her to leave the lunch position AFTER she got back? When the fact is, she wasn't in the lunchroom when she left? To me, that seems to be the main reason why MB gave her the money. The big bad school FIRED her from her crappy paying job, yet turned around and gave her another job in the same school. (A better paying job, she left that part out)

K, I watched the Early Show clip from the link a PP posted. They had Denise and a higher up from the school district (I think it was the Superintendent, but I may be wrong).

Anywho..

From what they said in the interview, she requested and was granted the promotion to the custodial staff before she went and did the Survivor thing. When she got back, she decided she'd rather go back to being a lunch lady and she claimed that she talked to the director and they turned her down flat with no explanation.

Turns out, the higher-up they had on the show is the one who has to approve or deny jobs in the district and Denise never asked her about going back to the lunch room. There is not a position available in the lunch room now, so there is no job to give her there. She also said that the first she'd heard of Denise being unhappy with her higher paying job was during the Survivor finale show.

 

[mumzie2three]

I bet she won't end up with the money. Either Burnett will withdraw the offer or she will donate it to the town in order to save face.

 

[goofy4tink]

OK, if this is what Denise said on the Early Show, she is still lying! She is insisting she makes $7.00/hour as a lunch lady, and I can tell you it is not true!

I don't know why I feel so passionate about defending a school cafeteria job, but here in MA, the minimum wage ALONE is $7.50/hour. So, that is what she would have to be paid at least. She seems to have had the job for many years, so she would of gotten regular raises, and if she moved up in positions, she would be paid more. (The head cook makes more than the dishwasher, ect)

I worked in a lunch room for one school year here in MA. I can tell you, I was STARTED at $8.75/hour, and I got a raise after 6 months. Had I continued into the next school year, there would of been another raise. I was only part time, full time made more money. A friend of mine started working in the same school I did after I left, and he was making over $10/hour after only a year. BTW, the women I worked with, ALL of them had LONG hair! Not one mullet in the crew.

Granted, I don't live in the same town as Denise, but I can tell you with full certainty, she did not make $7.00/hour as a lunch lady. No way, no how.

Did Denise explain on the Early Show WHY she would say the school asked her to leave the lunch position AFTER she got back? When the fact is, she wasn't in the lunchroom when she left? To me, that seems to be the main reason why MB gave her the money. The big bad school FIRED her from her crappy paying job, yet turned around and gave her another job in the same school. (A better paying job, she left that part out)

I totally agree. I know that I applied for a lunch lady position several years ago and the pay was nowhere close to just $7 an hour. As for Denise's other statements...according to what I saw this morning, the school didn't ask her to leave anything....she changed jobs before she left for Survivor, then changed her mind while she was competing, far from home. She got home and wanted her old job back, but there were no openings for her...all the spots were full. The superintendant did say that neither she nor the payroll/budget person had had any conversations with Denise about her wanting to change back to her lunch lady job. Nope, Denise has fabricated a lot of stuff here. She had nothing to come back with when faced with the school supt this morning on CBS. She lied, flat out lied, on national tv. I think she should give some of that, if not all, $50,000 to the school system as a scholarship. At least she could get some good press from that.
I don't think she ever thought the flood gates would open like this..just figured she could get some sympathy votes out there....sorry Denise, you were voted out, you should have quit while you were ahead!

 

[goofy's friends]

I was shocked and thought she had lied. But after watching that clip, I really feel like she didn't mean to mislead. Her words came out on a live show and she couldn't clarify then. If she keeps the $$, we'll know she doesn't really feel bad. If she doesn't accept or gives it to the school, then we will know she is trying to make up for her misleading comments.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I was shocked and thought she had lied. But after watching that clip, I really feel like she didn't mean to mislead. Her words came out on a live show and she couldn't clarify then.

Her words on the live show were that she went back to school, and because of her celebrity status on Survivor, she was too much of a distraction with the kids, so they asked her to leave the lunch room.

How is that not a lie, when she was a custodian BEFORE she left for Survivor, so she never even went back to the lunchroom?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I don't think she ever thought the flood gates would open like this..just figured she could get some sympathy votes out there....sorry Denise, you were voted out, you should have quit while you were ahead!

Votes for what? The "most popular Survivor" voting had already ended.

I agree that she exaggerated the truth and it was disappointing to hear. I'm not sure why she did it.

I think the anger toward her is a little overboard.

 

[Crankyshank]

I think some bitterness and resentment came back while watching the show and she shot her mouth off without thinking and got called on the lies. Now she's going to have consequences to deal with in her community, but it's no use getting worked up over it. Her mess. Her dealing with it.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I think the anger toward her is a little overboard.

it's no use getting worked up over it. Her mess. Her dealing with it.

I don't see any real anger on this thread, or anyone getting worked up. I think we are just having a conversation about someone who lied on national tv, and got rewarded for it.

 

[OhMari]

This whole thing is wierd. I think she really wanted her old job back. They probably did tell her she would be to much of distraction. I know the lunch lady at our school has to stay out of sight when the 4 year old leaves at lunch. If they behave, they get to say , goodby, and seeyalateralligator. Some get so distracted, they walk right into a pole waiting to say good-bye.

She was the one that wanted the better pay as a janitor, she shouldn't have said they gave her a janitor job because she was a distraction to the kids.

She should have said I'd really like my old job back working with the kids. It is important to me, but I don't make enough money as a lunch lady. And I want to be home with my family at night.

 

[Crankyshank]

I don't see any real anger on this thread, or anyone getting worked up. I think we are just having a conversation about someone who lied on national tv, and got rewarded for it.

I didn't say anyone was. I was speaking in general terms

 

[Heidict]

What amazes me is that she was stupid enough to lie about something like that on national TV, knowing that people in her hometown/co-workers would be watching!!

I don't think she really thought that one through. She lied and will now have to pay the conseqences for it.

 

[JESW]

...another local article...

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

 

[Samandmom]

I did not read all the responses. But was wondering what her husband does? Does anyone know?

 

[Feralpeg]

Sour Grapes??? Seriously?? Yes, the show is about strategy, lying, backstabbing, etc. But that is SUPPOSED to end when you are voted off. You are not supposed to carry those tactics home with you after the tribal council. And if you do, I'd like to see who is going to give you a free pass for that behavior. No one would have faulted her for telling that lie before she was sent home. But she told that lie after the game had ENDED.

The school did not sign on to play outwit, outplay, and outlast with her or the show. Lying about the school that supported her on national tv was unethical and will end up costing her a lot more than the money she won, in the damage to her reputation and credibility. So, well "played," Denise. Hope that $50k lasts a looooong time.

When I made my response, the story had yet to come out that she lied about the change of job. I was going on what happened on the show and that the OP sounded like she was just put out that Denise managed to wrangle the 50k by telling a sob story. The OP indicated that she would also like someone to give her 50k. It sounded to me like a sour grapes story.

Now that more information has come out on the story, I agree that Denise pulled a fast one on the show.

 

[Towncrier]

I don't see any real anger on this thread, or anyone getting worked up. I think we are just having a conversation about someone who lied on national tv, and got rewarded for it.

Sounds like Denise should run for public office. Afterall, politicians get paid to lie on national TV all the time.

 

[goofy's friends]

Her words on the live show were that she went back to school, and because of her celebrity status on Survivor, she was too much of a distraction with the kids, so they asked her to leave the lunch room.

How is that not a lie, when she was a custodian BEFORE she left for Survivor, so she never even went back to the lunchroom?

Yes, I know. But she may have been told that in an unofficial way when she asked for her job back. I'm just saying she spoke without thinking it through on live TV and didn't get a chance then to clarify. I'm sure she was thinking "insert foot" .....

We'll really know when she does something definative with the $$.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Ok just a mullet vent.

How does looking like Billy Ray Cyrus in the 90's make you look like a woman?

I have short hair and I am pretty sure I look more like a woman than she does. I'm also pretty sure my husband knows I am woman too.

Vent over. Thank you.

Please resume your Denise bashing.

 

[solferino]

Never watched the show, no interest. But these were on the front page of the local paper. I don't know if they're the same as the boston.com articles or not, but figured I'd pass on the links-

http://telegram.com/article/20071218/FRONTPAGENEWS/647516939

http://telegram.com/article/20071218/NEWS/712180609

 

[cruiserkaren]

I'll probably get flamed for this but so be it.

It really ticked me off to see her painting this portrait of her family living in poverty. Looking at that family, they surely haven't missed many meals.


JMHO

Not sure what to think of this whole mess. I was a big Denise fan during the show. Hmmm.

While most of us don't care for the mullet others do. I have an aunt that's had a mullet for as long as I can remember. If her and her hubby like it then more power to 'em.

 

[Jennifer S]

I just saw on the Survivor thread that Denise donated the $50,000 to the Elizabeth Glasier Pediatric aids foundation.

I really think she is a good soul and didn't mean to mislead.