History TearJerker / Survivor

** It becomes a meta Tearjerker for Varner. What he essentially did was nothing short of privacy invasion and crossed the [[MoralEventHorizon line between forgivable and inexcusable]]. He violated Zeke's by publicizing sensitive information that he didn't want others to know to avoid drawing attention to himself, and Zeke is uncomfortable with people questioning this aspect of his life and probing for the whole story. Even worse, this is a rampant issue [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxxing on the Internet]] as well as real life. Varner basically opened the door for the ''world'' to know this, and [[DespairEventHorizon the poor man was so torn up over realizing what he did, he went suicidal for a while and had to undergo therapy]]. The fact that this episode went to air probably doesn't help his plight one bit.

* The entirety of the ''Game Changers'' episode 7 Tribal Council. Varner had no one in his corner and saw an opportunity to make everyone flip their trust on Zeke by painting him as untrustworthy, but took it a step too far by indicating he was secretive of a fact that he didn't want to be shared- he was once a female. After Varner outed Zeke as transgender in an effort to save himself, the entirety of the tribe turned against him, as what he did was a personal attack that went way beyond the game. What makes it even worse is when Jeff hammers in the fact his just made this public knowledge to ''millions'' of people watching the show and there was absolutely no mention of this in Zeke's previous appearance on the show- his sexual orientation was the only thing viewers knew, but would not have realized this was just the tip of the iceberg without intimately knowing Zeke. Varner basically resigns from the game and the vote is completely skipped because everyone else on the tribe is unquestionably united in ousting him from the competition. When he says his parting words in the post-elimination confessional, Varner is in tears with his hands over his face in shame.

* The entirety of the ''Game Changers'' episode 7 Tribal Council. After Varner outed Zeke as transgender in an effort to save himself, the entirety of the tribe turned against him, as what he did was a personal attack that went way beyond the game.

--> Michaela: "Tell Malcolm you sent him home."
--> J.T.: "[[MyGreatestFailure I will]]."

* Jessica's exit from the game in ''Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X'', is heartbreaking. She really didn't want to draw rocks but she went to do so believing that it is her only shot at winning the game. As she ended up pulling the black rock, she was crying on her way out of tribal council.

* Jessica's exit from the game is heartbreaking. She really didn't want to draw rocks but she went to do so believing that it is her only shot at winning the game. As she went out of the game, she was crying on her way out.

* While somewhat understated due to her over-the-top nature, it is made clear that Michaela is genuinely hurt by Jay's betrayal. The look she gives Jay as her torch is snuffed screams that she is trying to decide between being enraged and heartbroken.
** Even before that, the look she gave him after her BigWhat and his admittance. She looks as though she's tearing up.

* ''All Stars'':
** Jenna Morasca quitting ''Survivor: All Stars'' to be with her cancer-stricken mother. At first this seems like a [[HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming moment]], until you learn that she passed away merely ''eight days later''.
** Rudy being voted out in ''All Stars''. The 75 year old Navy SEAL veteran was voted out for his age being a burden on the ailing Saboga tribe, despite being respected by all of his tribemates. After Rudy is voted out, Jeff comments on the fact that they didn't want to vote him out, but they didn't have a choice and someone had to go. Jerri is especially in tears.
--> '''Jeff''': Well Tribal Council is an interesting place. Always emotional. Tonight was no exception. How could you not like Rudy? 75 year old former NAVY SEAL, hanging with kids a third of his age. A hero in anybody's book. I know you didn't want to vote him out, and yet, somebody had to go, which is exactly what makes Survivor what it is, complicated.
** Boston Rob and Lex's fight in ''All-Stars''. Going into the game the two were very good friends and were reported to have had one of the tightest friendships between former players at the time. Although they went into the game intending on aligning with each other they ended up on different tribes and eventually came into conflict. And unlike in future seasons where players return and have pre-existing relationships, ''All-Stars'' was the first of its kind and there was no precedent in place for how to balance friendship and the game. As a result, Rob and Lex permanently ended their friendship. While the conflict and their behaviour is ''extremely'' controversial and divisive in the fanbase, the fact remains that for the first time the game ruined a pre-existing relationship and there was basically no way either player could have been prepared for it.
** All Stars in general is a very dark season. All of the players were really tight and close with each other, and friendships were put on the line when they played the game. This culminates at Final Tribal Council, where pretty much the entire jury is bitter towards the two finalists. As Jerri said at the reunion, "it's not worth it."
** The bullying of Shii-Ann was ''horrible''. Throughout the merge, especially after losing Kathy, she was treated like garbage by nearly everyone. They made no secret she was next to go - and when she won immunity they still kept up their terrible treatment, sneering at her victory and outright ignoring her as they targeted each other. The only consolation from her treatment was that Amber gave her a car after the show for being the swing vote that won her the million dollars, but is it no wonder Shii-Ann decided not to return after that?

* Jonathan Penner's evacuation in Micronesia. It's enough when the rest of his tribe starts to cry at the news, but when Kathy Sleckman, who's already emotionally on the edge, begs him not to go, it's enough to tip it over the top. Then, cut to the boat where [[BreakTheBadass Jonathan is hunched over sobbing]] and try not to feel sympathy.

* Terry getting pulled out of the game with the news that his son was in the hospital, and both his wife and the doctor said he should come home as soon as possible, with Terry not even hesitating or questioning about doing so. [[spoiler: His son needed a heart transplant, and was fortunately fine after the surgery]].

* All of the evacuations in ''Kaoh Rong'' are heartbreaking to watch.
** The end of the Episode 4 reward challenge in ''Kaoh Rong'', where '''THREE''' people went down after the challenge and the entire production crew getting involved to care for the fallen contestants. It is then deemed that Caleb had to be pulled from the game in a very heart wrenching scene. His tribe members, especially Tai, who really bonded with him, were absolutely distraught. For those who disliked him in [[Series/BigBrother Big Brother]], you can't help but to feel sorry for him, especially since he [[TookALevelInKindness Took A Level in Kindness]] since his time on ''Big Brother''.
** Neal's elimination on episode 7 of Kaoh Rong. His fifteen year long dream was looking promising, but he was medically removed from the game resulting in his ManlyTears. The dream is possibly over and he will never have a clear answer if he would have taken control of the game the next two tribal councils. The episode put focus on his friendship with Aubry, and the potetial foreshadowing that many other players could also be evacuated due to infections.
** At the Final 5, Joe, after winning a reward challenge despite his old age, came down with constipation and bladder trouble thanks to all of the food he ate. After medical came to camp to check on him, it was deemed that he had to be pulled from the game. For a man his age (he is 72, the second oldest contestant to play) to make it this far and then be pulled due to matters out of his control, it's hard not to shed a tear for him.

* Michael from ''the Australian Outback'' becoming the first player to be medically evacuated. For those who need a recap; Michael fell into the campfire and severely burned his hands. We're treated to close ups of his burnt hands as well as him screaming in pain, and all his teammates can do is offer moral support. By the time he's evacuated, ''everyone'', including the camera crew, is in shock and disbelief. This was the moment that established that for all the glitz and glamor that the media bestowed on the castaways, this wasn't a vacation. This was truly a ''reality'' show where bad things could happen to ''anyone.''

** The end of the Episode 4 reward challenge in ''Kaoh Rong'', where '''THREE''' people went down after the challenge and the entire production crew getting involved to care for the fallen contestants. It is then deemed that Caleb had to be pulled from the game in a very heart wrenching scene. His tribe members, especially Tai, who really bonded with him, were absolutely distraught. For those who disliked him in [[Series/BigBrother Big Brother]], you can't help but to feel sorry for him, especially since he [[TookALevelInKindness Took A Level in Kindness]] from his time on ''Big Brother''.

** At the Final 5, Joe, after winning a reward challenge despite his old age, came down with constipation and bladder trouble thanks to all of the food he ate. After medical came to camp to check on him, it was deemed that he had to be pulled from the game. For a man his age to make it this far and then be pulled due to matters out of his control, it's hard not to shed a tear for him

* The end of the Episode 4 reward challenge in ''Kaoh Rong'', where '''THREE''' people went down after the challenge and the entire production crew getting involved to care for the fallen contestants. It is then deemed that Caleb had to be pulled from the game in a very heart wrenching scene. His tribe members, especially Tai, who really bonded with him, were absolutely distraught. For those who disliked him in [[Series/BigBrother Big Brother]], you can't help but to feel sorry for him, especially since he [[TookALevelInKindness Took A Level in Kindness]] from his time on ''Big Brother''.
* Neal's elimination on episode 7 of Kaoh Rong. His fifteen year long dream was looking promising, but he was medically removed from the game resulting in his ManlyTears. The dream is possibly over and he will never have a clear answer if he would have taken control of the game the next two tribal councils. The episode put focus on his friendship with Aubry, and the potetial foreshadowing that many other players could also be evacuated due to infections.

* Michael from ''the Australian Outback'' becoming the first player to be medically evacuated. For those who need a recap; Michael fell into the campfire and severely burned his hands. We're treated to close ups of his burnt hands as well as him screaming in pain, and all his teammates can do is offer moral support. By the time he's evacuated, ''everyone'', including the camera crew, is in shock and disbelief. This was the moment that established that for all the glitz and glamor that the media bestowed on the castaways, this wasn'ta vacation. This was truly a ''reality'' show where bad things could happen to ''anyone.''