Denise the Lunch Lady

The school lunch lady whose misleading sob story on the season finale of Survivor: China earned her 50 thousand dollars now says she'll donate the award to charity. DENISE MARTIN claimed on the show Sunday night that she was demoted to a janitorial position at a Massachusetts school upon her return from China, inspiring executive producer MARK BURNETT to give her the money. She admitted on CBS' The Early Show Tuesday that her comments were misleading, after the school district for which she works said Martin had been promoted to custodian before she taped Survivor, and had returned to the same position.

The 40-year-old Martin has apologized again in a statement, saying, quote, "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."

Oops!

The school lunch lady who claimed on the Sunday-night finale of Survivor: China that she was demoted from her position upon her return from the show has served up an apology for her "misleading" comments. Forty-year-old DENISE MARTIN was awarded 50 thousand dollars by executive producer MARK BURNETT after she said she was demoted to a janitorial position because of her involvement in the show. The next day, the Massachusetts school district for which she works stated that Martin was actually promoted from her cafeteria position to full-time custodian before she left for Survivor, and that she returned to the same job.

On CBS' The Early Show yesterday, Martin admitted that the school district was telling the truth. She explained that while taping Survivor, she decided that she wanted her old cafeteria job back, but has been told there are no openings. Martin apologized and said, quote, "It was not my intention to be misleading." When asked if she would accept the 50-thousand-dollar award if the offer is still on the table, she replied, quote, "I had no idea that I was going to be awarded that."

Hmmmmm....A Survivor Cover Up?

Did Survivor: China contestant DENISE MARTIN outwit the show when she said she was demoted from her position as a school lunch lady because of her celebrity status? Looks like she just might have.

The 40-year-old Martin claimed on Sunday night's finale that she lost her cafeteria job at a Massachusetts school upon her return from China because her superiors felt her newfound fame was "too distracting" for the kids. She said she was demoted to a janitorial position instead. After hearing Martin's story, executive producer MARK BURNETT awarded her 50 thousand dollars, apparently on the spot.

However, in a statement posted on their official website yesterday, the Douglas Public Schools district disputed Martin's allegation. In fact, they claim that she was actually promoted from a cafeteria position to full-time custodian, with a higher salary and better benefits, before she taped Survivor. The school adds that she returned to the same job after she finished competing in the reality series.

No comment as yet from either Martin or Survivor producers.