Survivor's Ben denies racism claims

By CHRIS SCHULZ - Stuff.co.nz

EXCLUSIVE: Survivor: Samoa contestant Ben Browning has denied claims of racism following his controversial appearance on the top-rating reality show.

Browning, a Los Angeles bar manager and self-confessed "country boy", became the fourth contestant eliminated from Foa Foa after his tribe mates accused him of being racist following several incidents - including calling a visiting opponent "ghetto trash".

Marisa Calihan was eliminated in the show's first episode, Betsy Bolan was voted out in the second and Mike Borassi was forced to leave at the same time for medical reasons.

Browning, 28, told Stuff.co.nz in an exclusive interview he denied all claims of racism.

"It's condescending," he said. "My girlfriend's Asian so how does that work? Everybody who knows me knows that I'll say whatever whenever.

"That doesn't make me a racist - just the ballsiest guy in the room."

He believed his Foa Foa team mate Jaison Robinson orchestrated his elimination, following a tense argument over his perceived racism at tribal council.

"I pretty much knew (I was going). I can't really blame anybody but the game. But I think Jaison had plenty to do with it, trying to portray me as a racist.

"I think he succeeded in getting rid of me."

Browning said his strategy for the game hadn't worked.

"A lot of my strategy was to be very direct to people. Whether people like me or dislike me they respect me because I am who I am. I'm going to tell it straight.

"I really don't care what people think about me. It was great for TV. I got huge props for it, it got huge ratings so I'm completely fine with it.

"(But) it didn't work for me very well. I'd try and do things differently, try and win that million bucks."

He denied claims from Yasmine Giles - the opponent he labelled "ghetto trash" - that he hit her too hard during an immunity challenge.

"Yasmine is a cry baby. If she thinks that she shouldn't be in the game."

Browning also defended his antics around camp after being accused of keeping his tribe awake at night while chopping firewood.

"It wasn't in the middle of the night. It gets dark in the jungle around 4.30pm. That was me being logistically proficient. None of the people had gathered firewood while I was getting food and water that day so the fire was about to go out. I was the only smart one willing to feed the fire.

"I was just doing what I had to do to survive. If you don't have fire you can't boil water to drink it."

He wanted his devious tribe mate Russell Hantz - who has stirred up continuous trouble since the start of the show - to win the game.

"He's already rich, but he wants to be famous. By playing the way he's playing ... I think he's doing a great job. He's going to accomplish everything he wants to accomplish and more power to him.

"I'd like to see Russell win the whole thing."

Survivor: Samoa screens on TV3 on Thursday nights at 8.30pm. Stuff.co.nz will interview each contestant as they are eliminated.

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