
What accounts for Ezekiel's recent rise in popularity?
In my case, I’ve always liked his design

In my case, I’ve always liked his design
-Dodgeball episode: They didn't want Harold to play because they thought he was terrible, but he proves them wrong and wins the game for the team. Everyone celebrates.
-Talent episode: They treat him again like a useless player with no skills or talent, and again he makes his team win even though nobody believed in him.
In later episodes, they treat him like a loser again... Why?!
Reveal that Chris promised him more screen time by having him sign a contract during WT (after being found as a stowaway for the second time), to appear on the show as a threat to the contestants (like the bears or the sasquatch, but the contract also includes being humiliated), and then reveal that Ezekiel was pretending to be feral all this time.
I mean, it would suit the character very well; it's been shown that he cares much more about money and fame than his integrity.