Survivor Denise Demotion Update

Last night, Denise Martin, who worked as a lunch lady in Douglas, said the school district she worked for didn't let her return to work as a lunch lady and that she had to work as a janitor and she was not happy at all. She received $50,000 from Mark Burnett as a result. (Having another castmate make a demeaning comment about "welfare" and saying Denise "sucks at life" probably also prodded Burnett to make the payout.)

Now, the Douglas School District is claiming that Martin's story is incorrect and that it didn't can her. Mike Elfland at the Telegram & Gazette quotes the school superintendent Nancy Lane: "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."

Lane claims that Martin took the position before she started taping Survivor: China and that Martin actually wanted that position because it was a promotion. Lane's story is a complete turnaround from what Denise said last night.

The school board felt the need to post the statement on its own website, likely because they are getting phone calls. Message boards are now debating whether or not Denise lied about her situation. Whoever is lying in this situation, Bostonist would be surprised if Denise keeps working for the Douglas School District for long. With $50,000 in her pocket, she can quit anyway.

Image of Jeff Probst putting out Denise's torch from CBS.com.