Over the last few days, the public hasn't been kind to Tyra Banks. The supermodel mogul has been receiving harsh criticisms in the media after clips of her hit show America's Next Top Model have resurfaced. When the show aired many moons ago, it was a No. 1 hit among fans. Tens of thousands of hopefuls auditioned to be on the modeling reality series and wanted to be judged by Tyra Banks and her cast of highly critical judges.
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In the clips that have been circulating, Tyra can be seen mocking people's looks, telling them they have to permanently change themselves to be marketable or accepted, and even dressing up white women in blackface and afros in photo shoots. People have called for her to be canceled or have stated that she's no role model for women, and after days of complaints from the public, Tyra has come forward to address her critics.
"Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you," she penned on Twitter. "Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs." She ended her message with a heart emoji. Check it out below.
Tyra Banks Catches Heat From Public After Old "ANTM" Clip Resurfaces
Tyra Banks has found herself in the middle of controversy over her "America's Next Top Model" moments that people are now calling problematic over a decade later.
It's been a rough few days for Tyra Banks. The fashion icon unexpectedly went viral on social media after old clips from America's Next Top Model resurfaced with the help of the public. These weren't brief moments that highlighted some of the better moments from the hit series that helped launch the careers of many—these were rather unfavorable segments that showed Tyra Banks and her crew in cringeworthy moments.
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Some of the videos shared included Tyra criticizing aspiring models over their looks, making them drastically change their appearances only to boot them from the show, dabbling in blackface, and pretending to accept a handful of models onto the reality series only for it to be fake. Dani Evans, a model from Season 6, was a popular fixture because she has a noticeable gap between her front two teeth. At the time, Banks told her she wasn't marketable and she should have the gap closed. The clip of that moment recently went viral, and now Evans has resurfaced to speak on how that moment affected her.
Dani shared her version of events in a lengthy Instagram video where she gave behind-the-scenes details of her time with Tyra Banks that the viewers didn't see. Check out Dani Evans below along with clips of Tyra on ANTM.
View this post on InstagramDrake Tried To Date Melyssa Ford & Toccarra Jones At The Same Time
Melyssa Ford revealed on her podcast, “I’m Here For The Food,” that Drake tried to date her and her friend and guest, “ANTM” alum Toccarra Jones, at the same time.
Drake might be considered a player by some, but none more than friends Melyssa Ford and Toccarra Jones, who revealed on Melyssa’s podcast with Blue Telusma, I’m Here For The Food that they once found that they were both dating the rapper at the same time. In the episode titled “Chicks Before D*cks,” the former “video vixen” and America’s Next Top Model alum discuss the time that they found out that they were both dealing with the same guy, though neither of them call him out by name just yet.
“She’s telling me that we’re dating the same guy, and you know what I say to her? ‘Knock yourself out,'” Melyssa recalls. “I didn’t have to have a conversation with him—I mean I did, eventually—not eventually, probably like the next day or something like that because he called me.” Toccarra interrupts her to say, “For his next date,” before calling the still-mystery man a “hoe ass.” At that point, Blue asks, “on behalf of the audience,” what the man’s name is, but Melyssa and Toccarra hold out for a while before revealing his identity.
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“We are drawing this out,” Melyssa admits. “But I just want to finish it off with saying this: there was no way I was losing my friend to this guy, no matter who the f*ck he was. I was not losing my girlfriend.” Toccarra then reiterates their earlier point about women sticking together, before Blue once again insists that they reveal who they’re referring to.
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“Can I say it?” Melyssa asks her. “Drake.” It takes a second for Blue to process what she’s just heard, as she goes into a state of shock from the revelation. “Assh*les,” she exlcaims, as Toccarra loses it. “I love Drake,” Blue declares. “He’s a nice guy,” Melyssa admits, as Toccarra notes that, “everybody loves Drake.” She’s not wrong about that. Listen to the full episode below:
Tyra Banks’ Toddler Son Celebrates Body Positivity
Tyra Banks’ four-year-old son, York, is up on game about body positivity.
Tyra Banks’ son, York Banks Asla, understands the concept of body positivity at the tender age of just four-years-old. Hailing from Inglewood, California and beginning her modeling career at 15-years-old, Tyra Banks has been able to acquire the mental toughness to ward off comments about her physical features from people in the modeling industry, critics, and fans alike. In a business that requires aesthetic perfection, the America’s Next Top Model creator has been celebrating body positivity for years and now her son, York, is doing the same and even knows how to smize.
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Tyra Banks took her talents to Good Morning America on Monday (Feb. 24) to talk about a plethora of subjects including her upcoming experimental venture ModelLand, her various entrepreneurial endeavors, and motherhood. When the topic of her son arose, Banks (AKA Banx) had this to say:
“My little boy is amazing. First of all, he’s a hot mess.” Tyra Banks then went on to add, “Oh he knows how to smize… And, I’m teaching my son to love all body types.”
The former supermodel then went on to explain her ‘X out booty standards’ slogan to which her son, York, commonly uses in his own vernacular. Tyra Banks continued:
“He’s like, ‘Mommy x out booty standards, mommy your booty is bigger and it’s OK.'”
Banks then went on to state her influence about her current ModelLand venture saying:
“America’s Next Top Model is in 180 countries, it is one of the longest-running reality shows in history, but I feel like I’ve only given so many people that opportunity. It’s time to bust open that door and give everyone that opportunity to feel beautiful and push so much self-love into their spirit. I created ModelLand as a place you can come and live the ultimate modeling fantasy. You can do the fanta-scene, which is like the fanciest spa you’ve ever gone to, except instead of a massage you get couture hair, makeup, styling, photos to take home — everybody who comes gets a look book.”
The fashion-forward businesswoman went on to explain that it took a total of twelve years for ModelLand to become a reality. The goal for ModelLand is to provide women and men the full supermodel experience from fashion shows and photoshoots to shopping and more. The model-based ‘theme park’ is based in Santa Monica, California and is set to open doors sometime this spring.
Check out Tyra Banks discuss her son’s body positivity mindset as well as her full interview on Good Morning America below.
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