Tyra Banks breaks silence on ANTM controversy

Tyra Banks has spoken about the backlash surrounding America’s Next Top Model. The reality show aired for 24 seasons and has faced criticism in recent years. Many fans have pointed out controversial moments from the show. Some believe the show promoted unrealistic beauty standards. Others think certain challenges were insensitive. She finally addressed these concerns during a recent event.

Tyra talks at ESSENCE Awards

Tyra, 51, attended the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. She briefly mentioned the controversy during her speech. She was honored with the first-ever Luminary Spotlight Award. Other stars, like Cynthia Erivo and Zoe Kravitz, also attended. During her speech, she acknowledged the impact of ANTM. She reflected on how the show changed the modeling industry. But she also admitted there were mistakes along the way.

Tyra admits past mistakes

During her speech, Tyra Banks acknowledged past mistakes. She admitted, “Did we get it right? Hell no. I said some dumb s**t.” She also stated that her legacy should not be defined by viral clips. “There were 24 cycles of changing the world,”. She emphasized that the show broke barriers despite its flaws and she wanted the audience to focus on the positive changes the show made. She reminded them that ANTM gave many aspiring models a platform.

A Message of Confidence

Tyra also embraced her current self. “Now, my 51-year-old, dimpled, cellulite-covered bigger tummy and 10 million times bigger titties is walking through that door.” Tyra said the journey is just beginning and encouraged others to embrace their own beauty. She reminded everyone that confidence comes from within. More body types and ethnicities are now represented in modeling. She believes ANTM played a role in this change.

The fight for diversity

Tyra Banks reflected on the show’s early days. “Over 20 years ago, I created America’s Next Top Model,” she said. She fought for diversity at a time when it was rare. “People in the fashion industry questioned my casting choices. But we made it happen.” She recalled how difficult it was to convince networks to support diversity. Tyra insisted that beauty comes in all forms. She fought against industry standards that excluded certain looks. She wanted to prove that anyone could become a top model.

Controversial moments resurface

The show ran from 2003 to 2018. It started on UPN, then moved to The CW and later VH1. In 2020, old clips spread across social media. Critics called out Tyra Banks for her comments and judging style. One episode showed models changing ethnicities with makeup. Another labeled a contestant “plus-size” for wearing a size six. Fans reacted with outrage to these moments. They argued that the show promoted unhealthy beauty standards. Some directly accused Tyra of treating contestants too harshly. The backlash grew stronger as more clips resurfaced.

Former contestants have shared their experiences. Some described suffering from “panic attacks.” Others recalled feeling “traumatized.” One model had to pose in a casket just a week after losing a friend. Many contestants struggled with the extreme challenges. Some felt pressured to change their appearance. Others believed the show failed to offer proper support. Many former participants have since spoken about their struggles. They criticized the show for prioritizing entertainment over their well-being.

Tyra Responds to backlash

In 2020, Tyra addressed the criticism on Twitter. She wrote, “Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you.” She thanked fans for their feedback and sent them “love and virtual hugs.” Tyra Banks admitted the show made mistakes. She acknowledged that certain decisions were insensitive. However, she also defended the overall impact of ANTM. She said it helped redefine beauty and open doors for many models. She assured fans that she had learned from the experience.

Could ANTM return?

In 2023, Tyra spoke to E! News about a possible ANTM revival. She explained, “We have tried. It’s not us. It’s the powers that be.” Then, she added, “Maybe one day.” She expressed strong interest in bringing the show back. Furthermore, she believes the industry has evolved significantly since ANTM first aired. Because of this, she hopes a future version of the show could be more inclusive. However, she also made it clear that the final decision is not in her hands. Even so, she remains hopeful that ANTM will return someday.

Tyra never expected ANTM to become so successful. She admitted, “I thought it would last two seasons, and that’s it. Big surprise.” Despite her initial doubts, she now believes the show is legendary. She explained, “We broke barriers before diversity was a trend.” Over the years, the show faced backlash for casting “non-traditional” beauties. However, she stood by its mission. She always wanted to redefine beauty standards. More importantly, she aimed to prove that modeling was for everyone. Despite its flaws, she strongly believes ANTM changed the industry forever.

Looking back, Tyra believes the show paved the way for future diversity. She explained, “Sometimes, when you’re first, you get the bumps and bruises. But you open the door for others.” Because of this, she takes great pride in the barriers ANTM broke. She hopes the industry will continue to embrace diversity. Additionally, she wants future models to feel represented. More than anything, she believes beauty is constantly evolving. With that in mind, she hopes her legacy will be remembered for its positive impact.