Tyra Banks finally addresses America's Next Top Model outrageous 'race swapping' shoot
Tyra Banks has finally spoken out about that he controversial 'race swapping' challenge in America's Next Top Model after years of backlash from viewers.For years the former supermodel, 52, has caught flack for the controversial inclusion of a culturally insensitive task which saw contestants 'change' race.During a season four photoshoot, which aired in 2005, aspiring models had to embody different ethnicities using makeup and clothing, including East Indian, African American, and Eskimo.In those scenes, models painted their faces black and dressed in traditional native clothing as they tried to emulate racial stereotypes.Banks has now addressed the numerous problematic elements of her reality competition show in the new three-part Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model.'I didn't think it was controversial,' Banks said, defending her choice to set the challenge in the first place. 'I was in my own little bubble in my own little head.'This was my way of showing the world that brown and black is beautiful. But then we put it out there and the world was like, are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?'Shockingly, America's Next Top Model would go on to include the controversial race swap challenge years later in 2007 with the same task brought back again for cycle nine. Tyra Banks didn't think the controversial race swap challenge was problematic at the time Models were tasked with changing race for a photoshoot in America's Next Top Model Banks acknowledged that she does now understand the cultural implications of race-swapping.'Looking at the show now with the 20:20 lens, it's an issue and I understand 100 percent why,' she said.Banks previously said via a representative to Entertainment Weekly that the intention of the original 'race swap' shoot was to hit back at the modeling industry where 'lighter skin and straight hair were pervasive beauty standards.'ANTM aired from May 2003 to April 2018 and saw a group of young, aspiring models compete in various contests, runway shows, and photoshoots as they fought to be crowned the competition winner and earn a modeling contract.Created by Banks, who also served as an executive producer, it was one of the biggest reality shows of all time.However, in recent years, many have pointed out that the series contained numerous controversial moments.Elsewhere in documentary, set for release February 16, Banks said she 'went too far' after reflecting on the viral scene in which she shouted at Tiffany Richardson that she was 'rooting for her.'Unpacking the scene, which aired in 2006, the former host realized her behavior was out of line and shed light on why she reached breaking point. Aspiring models used make-up and clothing to embody different ethnicities on the show Races included East Indian, African American and Eskimo The challenge initially aired in 2005 and was brought back for another iteration in 2007 'I just wanted to change this woman's life,' she said of Richardson. 'I felt like she could have been a supermodel with a capital S.''I went too far, I lost it,' Banks added. 'It was probably bigger than her, it was family, friends, society, black girls, all the challenges that we have, so many people saying we're not good enough.'I think all that stuff was there in that moment. That's some black girl stuff that goes real deep inside of me but knew I went too far.'
