The Internet Is Dragging Tyra Banks For Her Problematic 'ANTM' Behavior
By Peyton Blakemore
May 5, 2020
Turns out, America's Next Top Model hasn't exactly aged well.
Thanks to the global pandemic, people have had the free time to re-watch the reality series, which premiered in 2003, and let's just say, it doesn't have the same charm for some. Well, more specifically Tyra Banks' presence, commentary, and even her photoshoot ideas aren't sitting well for a lot of people.
See, the Internet is not too happy with the show's creator/head judge's problematic behavior as viewers have shared a number of clips showing her alleged mistreatment of the contestants.
One particular moment that has gone viral is when Tyra pressured Cycle 6 contestant Danielle Evans to get dental surgery to have her gap closed despite Danielle's wish to keep her gap. "Do you really think you can have a Cover Girl contract with a gap in your mouth?" Tyra asked.
I remember watching this as a young woman & I felt extremely discouraged to be on TV bc of this scene. I was disappointed in Tyra then... She ended up pressuring this girl to get dental surgery to be βmarketable.β Also my gap & TV contract say HI! https://t.co/FYfvETcpkP
— Nina Parker (@MzGossipGirl) May 5, 2020
Unfortunately, the problematic behavior doesn't end there. In addition to being accused of policing/not sticking up for the black contestants, her photoshoot ideas are also being slammed.
In one season she asked the contestants to do a "bi-racial" photoshoot that literally put contestants in blackface. In another cringeworthy shoot, she had a contestant model in a graveyard the day after she was told her best friend had passed away. (And that's just a few of the uncomfortable moments)
While some have defended Tyra on the basis that the show was reflective of the fashion industry at the time, others do not believe that is a good enough excuse.
The part on ANTM that never sat right with me was how Tyra did Yaya that one episode. She let that white lady tell Yaya she was acting too black then told her she was being defensive. Like girl wtf π pic.twitter.com/EASO8zVY8t
— nae. (@euphorixa) May 5, 2020
LETS DISCUSS HOW TYRA BANKS DESERVES PRISON!! #ANTM pic.twitter.com/CA48SiN2YD
— zuko stan account (@weyheyitsjayla) May 1, 2020
Keep scrolling to see more reactions to Tyra's problematic behavior below.
tyra banks after fucking those bitches hair up & then sending them home pic.twitter.com/bIg8Nerj5B
— diante (@cumrascal) May 2, 2020
Tyra Banks is a villain. pic.twitter.com/ahRdW3Hrhs
— π―π² (@MONR0WE) May 3, 2020
I will never forget when Tyra Banks gave Miley Cyrus a picture of herself for her 16th Birthday π pic.twitter.com/EGnL1rNQ2S
— Bougie Banton πΈπ½π―π²β¨ (@hotlinebling) May 5, 2020
Genuinely cannot believe how problematic Tyra Banks used to be. I used to love her and obsessed over Americans Next Top Model but now I'm looking back like pic.twitter.com/d9lAIBqRwZ
— Critical Optimist (@Nasimsalad) May 5, 2020
we donβt talk about how toxic Tyra Banks was in ANTM. sheβd make a girl get a buzz cut after her hair is down her back from growing it out since she was 9, just to send her home in the 5th week and get mad when the girls didnβt cry when they got eliminated ππ
— π§ππππ π¦ (@badgalzeezeee) May 3, 2020
Thinking about how Tyra banks made a girl on ANTM do a photoshoot in a graveyard the day after her childhood best friend died
— NIAMH (@angelthott) May 4, 2020
Tyra Banks should be jailed pic.twitter.com/Pffv1ms0Uy
— M Dyke Shyamalanπβπ¨ (@KayyyEnBe) May 4, 2020
Tyra Banks could get away with murder. Posting this here just in case they go missing. @/imanithecowboy on tik tok pic.twitter.com/HNL7jVBCUh
— ππππ’ (@iceymilos) May 1, 2020
i PROMISE you the coronavirus curve will not be flattened until tyra banks takes accountability for her problematics
— whoopie hoeberg (@ellenaj_tra) May 2, 2020
Wait wait wait. We must talk about this as well. Tyra was out here normalizing Blackface. How is this woman not cancelled ππ #ANTM pic.twitter.com/EyyKh7gYWO
— Michaela Pratt (@kay_scott324) May 5, 2020
Since we are on the topic of things Ms. Tyra Banks did during Americaβs Next Top Model, letβs remember how she did a photoshoot where she had models dressed up as βbiracial beautiesβ. Her obsession with blackface and mixed race was so weird. pic.twitter.com/RRjnoQlf0V
— Alyseββ· (@vmonsparadise) May 5, 2020
Photo: Getty Images