Dec 19, 2007 1:46 pm US/Pacific
'Survivor' Lunch Lady Won't Take $50,000
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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Denise Martin told viewers on Sunday night's live finale that she'd been demoted to janitor at a school in Douglas, Mass., after finishing fourth on the show.
Monty Brinton/CBS
Denise Martin, who gained fame as the lunch lady on CBS' reality
show "Survivor: China," is donating the $50,000 she received from
producer Mark Burnett to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDs Foundation.
Martin told viewers on Sunday night's live finale that she'd been
demoted to janitor at a school in Douglas, Mass., after finishing
fourth on the show. After hearing her story, Burnett surprised Martin
with the money to help get her life back.
On Tuesday, Martin acknowledged on CBS' "The Early Show" that she'd
been promoted to custodian, at her own request, before the competition
began.
"It was not my intention to be misleading," Martin, 40, said on the broadcast. "I'm sorry, and I apologize to everybody."
In a statement issued Tuesday by the network, Martin said she took "full responsibility" for her actions.
"I do not feel comfortable about accepting the $50,000. I would
instead ask that it be donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS
Foundation," the statement said. "Please accept my apology. I would
also like to thank all the people who have supported me through this
experience."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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