Tyra Banks’ 30 Most Controversial Moments Ever

1. Tyra Banks' freak out at Tiffany Richardson

Image Source/ E! Online"I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!" became an instantly infamous moment when it aired in 2005 during Cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model. Tyra Banks yelling at Tiffany Richardson when she was being eliminated from the TV show is now a hugely popular meme. You don't need to have seen ANTM to have seen this moment!

2. Tyra Banks getting America's Next Top Model Contestants to change race

Image Source/ BuzzFeedThere was several instances of blackface over the America's Next Top Model seasons. The models used make up to appear a different race for photoshoots on more than one occasion. Banks has apologised in recent years for this and agreed it was insensitive.

3. ANTM Models Were Forced To Film For 16 Hours Without Food Or Water

Image Source/ Us WeeklyANOTHER law suit was filed involving Tyra Banks by Angelea Preston, when she was disqualified from Cycle 17 of America's Next Top Model in 2011. Preston claimed Banks "cynically exploits" the models and went on to allege that they were forced to film for 16 to 17 hours without food or water.

4. It's work. No compassion for the contestants

Image Source/ MamamiaIn Cycle 4 of ANTM, Kahlen was made to pose in a coffin for a photoshoot. This photoshoot was one week after she learned a close friend has passed away. A little too close to home maybe? This isn't the only scenario reported where Banks and the other judges demonstrated a lack of compassion for their cast.

5. Tyra Banks pretending to be homeless for TV

Image Sorce/ RedditThe Tyra Banks Show aired an episode in 2006 where Tyra 'lived' as a homeless person for a day. She felt this was the best way to raise awareness for the issue, but her flannel shirt and thick soled boots to 'stop dirty heroin needles going through her foot' left viewers criticising her tone deaf approach. Can you really blame them?

6. Controversially wearing a fat suit for The Tyra Banks Show

Image Source/ DlistedIn another episode of her talk show, she donned a fat suit in a segment about discrimination. Banks said, "It was one of the most heartbreaking days of my life", as people laughed at her walking down the street. Missing the mark again, she was branded insensitive and the episode a ploy for ratings.

7. Abuse allegations when Tyra Banks was hosting America's Got Talent

Image Source/ Footwear NewsAn 18 page lawsuit was filed against America's Got Talent, in which an unnamed contestant claims Banks "verbally abused" her daughter by "insinuating she was accidentally conceived" and ridiculing the performance. America's Got Talent dismissed the claims and backed Banks, saying she was "an incredible addition to the show".

8. Tyra Banks goes 'undercover' by darkening her skin tone

Image Source/ RedditAs well as getting models to use make up in this way, Tyra Banks does her own blackface during a 2006 episode of her show. In this episode, Banks goes 'undercover' as a stripper which apparently entailed darkening her own skin tone. It may have been a different time, but how was this ever a good idea!?

9. Announcing the wrong bottom two when hosting Dancing With The Stars

Image Source/ Page SixDuring a 2020 stint of hosting Dancing With The Stars, Tyra announced the wrong couple were in the bottom two! Monica Aldama and Val Chmerkovskiy celebrated their safety, before being called back to the stage and told they were actually in the bottom two. Awkward!

10. Tyra Banks suggesting a contestant should tone down their sexuality

Image Source/ MetroCycle 5 ANTM contestant, Kim Stolz, was very open about her sexuality to the panel on the show. In response, Banks suggested Stolz might tone down her openness, saying "I'm not walking down the red carpet like, 'I'm Black! I'm Black!' You know what I'm saying?"

11. Tyra Banks making fun of a ANTM contestants gap tooth

Image Source/ The MirrorDani Evans was the winner of Cycle 6 but not without a few bumps along the road. Banks made fun of Evans' gap tooth, saying she wasn't 'marketable' and questioning why she had chosen not to have it fixed, all while holding a finger over her own teeth to make a point.

12. Tyra Banks later suggested another contestant widen the same gap between their teeth

Image Source/ PinterestEight cycles later on the same show, contestant Chelsey Hersley was encouraged to widen the very same gap in her front teeth. This highlighted some uncomfortable racist undertones considering her previous reaction to Dani Evans in Cycle 6. Hypocrite much!

13. The great scandal of Janice Dickinson and Tyra Banks

Image Source/ The SunJanice Dickinson and Tyra Banks were co-hosts of ANTM but provided one of the most longstanding scandals of the show. Their never-ending feud rivalled the likes of Taylor Swift and Kanye West. When Dickinson left the show, she not so subtly hinted that Banks had her fired, also suggesting she "fired everybody" because "she's soulless".

14. Tyra Banks taking back Angelea Preston's ANTM win

Image Soure/ NydjliveIn 2011, Angelea Preston won Cycle 14, only to have her crown taken away a few hours later. The reason Angelea Preston was disqualified was never revealed on the TV show, but it later came out that she had previously worked as an escort. Preston claims that producers knew about her past so she never violated her contract.

15. Tyra Banks repeatedly mispronouncing a contestant's name

Image Source/ BuzzFeedKatarzyna Dolinska was a contestant on Cycle 10 of ANTM. Despite repeatedly correcting the judges on the pronunciation of her name, they never seemed to get it right. Or they never bothered to try. The latter being more likely with Banks, who replied with "whatever" on one occasion after Katarzyna politely corrected the mispronunciation of her name.

16. When Tyra tells 14 girls they're through to the next round, only to tell them they're actually going home a moment later

Image Source/ Entertainment WeeklyDuring one cycle of America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks announced the names of 14 girls who were going through to the next round, leaving 14 girls thinking they were going home. Later she flipped this around, revealing the 'trick' was that the 14 girls originally sent home were the actual contestants she was taking through to the next round!

17. When Tyra Banks pretended to faint to scare the contestants

Image Source/ TV GuideDuring a chat with contestants, Tyra claimed to be feeling faint. Moments later she 'fainted' on the floor, scaring the contestants so much one burst into tears! Tyra then jumped up, laughing, shouting she was "ACTING!" I'm not sure everyone saw the funny side of this...

18. Making a contestant dye their hair red, just because they 'voted red' in the 2016 elections

Image Source/ 2ParagraphsAptly named 'Ty-Overs', Banks gives contestants makeovers in the show. Liberty Netuschil was targeted by Banks and made to dye her hair red, with Banks announcing that she 'voted red' so she can go red, implying the model was a Trump supporter during the 2016 elections.

19. Tyra Banks making ANTM contestants dress up as 'homeless women' for a photoshoot

Image Source/ ANTM Archives - TumblrIn 2008, Tyra had her models dress as 'homeless' people for a photoshoot. They also cast actual homeless women in the background of the shoot and dressed them in high end clothing. Unsurprisingly, this episode and shoot has been labelled disrespectful and out of touch.

20. Tyra Banks announcing a trip to Australia while dressing up as a kangaroo

Image Source/ E! OnlineA free holiday to Australia obviously wasn't enough, so Tyra took it upon herself to break the news to her contestants while she was dressed in a kangaroo costume, complete with a real kangaroo bouncing behind her. Some of the contestants were so shocked they didn't even realise what she was saying!

21. "Modelling is being a ho, but make it fashion"

Image Source/ Vanity FairProfound modelling wisdom from Tyra Banks. This was said to a contestant after she failed to deliver a sexy photo. It was accompanied by Banks demonstrating exactly how to be sexy in front of the camera, but looking more like a pornographic pantomime.

22. Tyra Banks becoming superhero, 'SuperSmize'

Image Source/ NPRIf you're not a ANTM super fan, you won't know that a 'smize' is a smile with one's eyes. Tyra Banks once appeared on set channeling Clark Kent vibes, only to proceed with ripping her clothes off revealing a leotard and cape underneath and claiming to be SuperSmize the superhero.

23. Tyra Banks pretending to get a bikini wax on TV

Image Source/ Us WeeklyNotorious for wild sketches in episodes of the show, her impromptu performance in Cycle 9 is up there with one of the weirdest. After a contestant revealed she was a beautician, Tyra took it upon herself to demonstrate what it's like to get a Brazilian bikini wax. I think we can all agree this is one thing no one needs to see on TV.

24. Tyra Banks screaming like a diva

Image Source/ VultureSpeaking of sketches, Tyra Banks got into character as a European Diva Model for Cycle 7, showing up on set at the models first photoshoot screaming about "prepubescent bitches", throwing herself on the floor and finishing with howling from a balcony.

25. Dangerously high heels leaving a contestant with a sprained toe

Image Source/ BuzzFeedDuring a judges' test in Cycle 6, Tyra Banks explains that the contestants must walk in impossibly high heeled shoes. It looked a lot like newborn horses learning to walk. Many contestants fell, including Danielle who sprains her toe in the process and ends up with crutches.

26. Blaming a model for being harassed

Image Source/ Thirsty For NewsAfter being inappropriately touched by a male model during a photoshoot, Keenyah stopped the shoot to state that she didn't feel comfortable. She was met by confusion from the staff who couldn't understand why she was being 'unprofessional'. All Banks had to say was that Keenyah should have told the model to stop, but without making others at the shoot feel awkward.

27. Shaming models for weight gain

Image Source/ VoxDespite claiming she is an advocate for body positivity, Tyra Banks accused contestant Keenyah of gaining weight during the show. She then proceeded to cast her as an elephant in a photoshoot portraying 'gluttony', while other girls had more glamorous roles. Not so subtle hint, right?

28. Tyra Banks admires 'the smallest waist in the world'

Image Source/ InsiderIn Cycle 15 of ANTM, Tyra Banks admires contestant Ann Ward by telling her, "You have the smallest waist in the world! Look at this waist!", while co-host Miss J Alexander held Ward's waist. Banks was consequently criticised for this remark and accused of not promoting a healthy body image.

29. Slut Shamed by Banks for posing for playboy

Image Source/ Refinery 29Jeana Turner, a ANTM contestant on the 24th season, spoke out against Banks and claims she and her fellow judges shamed the model because of her history of posing for playboy, admitting the experience has left her traumatised. It seems even with years of doing the show, Tyra never could leave the slut shaming behind.

30. Tyra Banks announcing the weights of the contestants to THE WHOLE OF AMERICA

Image Source/ Cinema BlendDuring Cycle 1, the contestants of the show were weighed and their weight shared with everyone else, and by extension anyone watching. For someone who 'claims' to be inclusive with their models, I would question why their weight would be relevant. Somehow I don't feel like they would get away with this now.