It’s no secret that Tyra Banks has received backlash for the way she treated contestants on her “America’s Next Top Model,” but according to the hip hop superstar Cardi B that’s the way “real life” is.
The female rapper has been apart of many runways and shared her own experiences with walking on stages to her fans during a recent Instagram live. During the livestream Cardi B brought up how Tyra has received a lot of backlash for the “harsh” things that she made contestants go through.
“To be honest with you guys, when I think about it, it’s just one of those it is what it is type of things. You remember when Tyra Banks used to make you do tasks and sh*t? In real shows they make you do things like that. You gotta walk around with shoes that’s bigger than yours and you gotta be gripping your toes like this and then you probably gotta wear a shoe that’s smaller than your foot.” The rapper then admitted that she had to do encounter something similar in two different Balenziaga shows.
“Challenges that Tyra Banks used to give these b***** is sh*t that happens in the real f***ing world. The thing about it is that y’all complain about it because the internet has made y’all soft.”
The model and TV personality, who created the show and hosted almost all of its episodes until it ended in 2018, received criticism on social media for how she treated aspiring models and some of the show’s methods.
In one strong moment from season six, which aired in 2006, Banks and other judges pressure contestant Danielle Evans to get dental surgery to close the gap in her front teeth. They claim she won’t win the “CoverGirl” modeling contract with that gap.
“So, Danielle, you went to the dentist, but you refused to have your gap closed,” Banks told the aspiring model. “Do you really think you can have a CoverGirl contract with a gap in your mouth?”
“Yes, why not?” Evans responded at the time.
“This is all people see,” Banks said, putting her finger between her own two front teeth. “Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, CoverGirl. It’s not marketable.”
Evans, 34, was eventually crowned the season’s winner after agreeing to close a gap a little.
Back in 2020, Banks responded to the criticism, acknowledging the “insensitivity” of some of the scenes that aired.
“Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you,” she told her 14.4 million followers. “Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs.”
