Tyra Banks Under Fire! Reality Show Doc Sparks Celeb Uproar!

Tyra Banks is once again finding herself in the hot seat, this time courtesy of the new Netflix docuseries, "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model." The series pulls back the curtain on the iconic (and often controversial) reality show, and the response hasn't exactly been a standing ovation. However, some familiar faces are stepping up to defend Banks and the show that launched their careers.

Tyra Banks Under Fire! Reality Show Doc Sparks Cel...

Following the docuseries' release, several former "ANTM" contestants, including Adrianne Curry, Isis King, and Jaslene Gonzalez, have publicly voiced their support for Banks. It's a nuanced situation, to be sure, and not everyone agrees on the show's impact.

Curry, the OG winner from Cycle 1 back in 2003, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her thoughts. In a lengthy post, she stated, "Ugh, I hate that I have to do this. I don't think Tyra should be canceled." She acknowledged feeling hurt by Banks and executive producer Ken Mok but argued that the current "cancel mob" mentality isn't productive. Curry's perspective is particularly interesting because she directly addresses the complex feelings many contestants likely have: gratitude for the opportunity coupled with resentment over how things played out. She even went on to say that Banks and Mok were just acting like "everyone else in Entertainment." It's a cynical view, perhaps, but also a realistic one.

Curry further elaborated that reality TV producers often "exploit and humiliate you based off what you give them," a sentiment many former reality stars have echoed over the years. She then added, “Let the girls on the show have their anger….or their gratefulness…and hopefully, their forgiveness of themselves and these people." This is really about closure, not just for the contestants, but perhaps for the viewers who invested so much time in the show, too. She even went on to forgive Banks and Mok for "being stricken from the show's history," a rather pointed and personal remark, but one that highlights the emotional toll the show has taken on her.

Isis King, a trailblazer as the first openly trans woman to compete on "ANTM" (Cycles 11 and 17), offered a different perspective. "I became an actress and all of these things that I would’ve never had that opportunity if I didn’t go on the show," she told People, "so I can’t downplay how impactful it’s been for my life." For King, the show was undeniably a springboard to success.

Jaslene Gonzalez, winner of Cycle 8, mirrored King's sentiment, describing "ANTM" as "a life-transforming experience." She told People, “My feeling with America’s Next Top Model has not changed since day one. I continue to be a fan of the show and of Tyra and the legacy that it’s left behind — especially with the way it’s transformed my life in such a positive way.” Even more poignantly, Gonzalez revealed that Banks and the producers encouraged her to seek help when they learned she was in an abusive relationship during her audition for Cycle 7. "When that was brought up, I took the initiative to learn what domestic violence was. I did six months of therapy and regained my confidence..."

The varying responses highlight the complex legacy of "America's Next Top Model." It's a show that undeniably provided opportunities for many, but also one that perpetuated harmful stereotypes and arguably exploited its contestants. Whether Banks deserves the current wave of criticism remains a matter of debate, but it's clear that the show's impact is still being felt, years after its initial run.