School superintendent says 'Survivor' "lunch lady" lied

Links (9)

The LunchLady: playing for sympathy?
Published 12/18/2007 by Lessa at Watching Survivor
... opportunity. This is far from the case. On the contrary, we granted all requests made by Mrs. Martin so that she could participate in the “Survivor” series. Since Mrs. Martin was on an approved leave, her position was held open for her, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. As a District, we make every effort to support our employees, and will continue to do so. Nancy T. Lane Superintendent of Schools She added to EW: “I can empathize, having been a working mother,” Lane ...

Survivor’s Denise Martin is a Liar
Published 12/18/2007 by Just Jared at Just Jared
... “Yeah, I watched my own jaw drop when she said that, because it’s absolutely not true,” Lane told EW. “I can empathize, having been a working mother. It’s tough to work those night shifts. But she took the job; that’s the job she took leave from [to do Survivor]. If she wants to go back to the day shift, she should apply when one comes open… It’s difficult to grasp. We did nothing but encourage ...

Did "Survivor" Lunch Lady Lie to Swipe $50K?
Published 12/18/2007 by TMZ Staff at TMZ.com
... 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." ...

Things I Learned from Reality TV in 2007
Published 12/18/2007 by Red at Gingers is the Watchword
... Complaining can get you decent money, too, but not as much as being likable - This Sunday, on the Survivor finale, the fourth place finisher (Denise "The Lunch Lady") told a sob story about losing her job when she returned from the show and being forced to work the night shift as a janitor. Mark Burnett was so sad, he gave her $50,000! (Now it turns out she was possibly lying. Seriously, what's wrong with people?) She should have stopped complaining and been likable...like James...who took home $100,000 as the "fan favorite"...and has a pretty crappy ...

Survivor Lunch Lady Scandal
Published 12/18/2007 by Hollywood Grind at Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors celebrity scandals Hollywood gossip blog from Hollywood Grind
... Denise Martin, the lunch lady from Survivor China, is being accused by the school she works for of lying about being demoted to "cleaning toilets." The show gave her a $50,000 check after she told her story of woe out of sympathy for her plight. I’m no legal eagle, but doesn’t that constitute fraud? EW reports: ...

Survivor: China’s Lunch Lady Lied?
Published 12/18/2007 by Spicy Pants at Celebrity Smack! Gossip & Entertainment Blog
... just because her sob story was so convincing. I don’t think Denise meant to screw over her employer like that, I just think she really needed that $100K that was given out to America’s favorite player at the finale. (Which ended up being James.) Of course she was trying to pull sympathy votes. It obviously worked - she got 50 grand. But it certainly came at a cost! Source

Survivor: China’s Denise Martin Apologizes for ‘Misleading’ Viewers
Published 12/18/2007 by StyleWatch at PEOPLE TV Watch
... to this same position.” Originally, Martin claimed her new custodial job—while found her working nights—adversely affected her family, offering her little time to spend with her children. After Sunday’s telecast, Martin said her surprise prize money was a real boon. “I was in shock,” she told PEOPLE. “I couldn’t believe that [Burnett] actually did that.” For her part, Lane says everybody is disappointed by Martin’s fabrications. “We did nothing but encourage her,” she told Entertainment Weekly .“Douglas is a nice little town. Everybody was rooting for her, the local ...

Did “Survivor” Lunch Lady Lie to Swipe $50K?
Published 12/18/2007 by Jocelyn at In Case You Didn't Know
... 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.” ...

…OF THE DAY
Published 12/18/2007 by Michelle Collins at Best Week Ever
... MULLET SURPRISE: Turns out that be-mulletted lunchlady from Survivor lied about being demoted to a janitor in order to glean $50,000 bones from Mark Burnett. She actually got promoted! Insert Louie Anderson in Coming to America Speech here. ("Now, I'm washing lettuce. Pretty soon I'll be on fries...") (EW.com) ...