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.
Russell Denies Inappropriate Romance With Kimora Lee Simmons When She Was 17
Russell Simmons denies rumors that he courted ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons when she was a teenage model.
Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons has been taking a few hard hits lately. The music icon has been embroiled in scandal after he was hit not only with allegations of sexual assault by multiple women, but a documentary about their accusations has been made public. He’s stepped forward to vehemently deny that he’s ever engaged in any acts of sexual misconduct, but the controversy has caused people to bring up his relationship with ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons.
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There has been gossip that Russell Simmons began courting Kimora when she was an underaged model. They were married, had children together, and later divorced, but they’ve maintained a close friendship throughout the years. Recently, Russell gave Kimora a birthday shoutout, and in the comments, Russell addressed rumors that he dated his ex-wife when she wasn’t of-age.
“I never do this but… That’s not true…,” he reportedly penned in a since-deleted comment. “She turned 18 right after i met her February fashion week Tyra banks (our bridesmaid) Cindy Crawford Naomi were all back stage at the Mary McFadden show they said i was a modelizer and that i wasn’t gonna stick around… i think that may have inspired her (the challenge).”
“We got to know each other by May we were dating,” Russell added. “She was legal at 17 But she turned 18 that may her mother and her manager Bethann Hardison approved supported and Rushed us (we really didn’t need a push) and the love affair began People like to talk every so often i loose my cool and talk back so take this advice Be happy and share happiness… try to think uplifting thoughts and keep learning to practice love… that’s our goal… oh and celebrate the queen @kimoraleesimmons.” Check out his birthday post to Kimora Lee Simmons 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 InstagramWill Smith & Tyra Banks Bond Over Iconic "Fresh Prince" Scene
30 years later, Tyra Banks and Will Smith still have their “Fresh Prince” lines memorized.
Will Smith is in quarantine but he’s taking over Snapchat while we’re all (hopefully) practicing social distancing. The actor recently launched his new Snapchat series, Will From Home. For episode two, he reunited with long-time friend Tyra Banks who he’s known for nearly 30 years. Though they hosted a quarantine fashion show during the episode, they did do some much needed reminiscing about the early days of their friendship.
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesSurely, you remember the episodes of Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air where Tyra played the role of Will Smith’s ex-girlfriend from Philly. That actually turned out to be Tyra’s foray into acting and her first acting gig. “I was 19, Will,” she said. “‘Cause I had an ‘acting agent’ even though I hadn’t acted yet. And he was like, ‘You gotta go and do this audition for The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. You’re going to be auditioning to play Will Smith’s ex-girlfriend from Philly.”
Of course, Will had to bring up the scene in Fresh Prince when the two burst into a massive argument inside of the campus coffee shop where Will worked. Tyra still knows the lines verbatim and proved it during their FaceTime conversation. “Yo it’s 30 YEARS LATER and Tyra Banks still has this scene memorized! Love that,” Will wrote on Instagram.
Check out the clip below and check out Will From Home on Snapchat.
Tyra Banks Recalls First Meeting Kobe Bryant & Recording Song With Him
Tyra Banks tells The Breakfast Club about first meeting Kobe Bryant when he was 17 and then later collaborating on the classic “K.O.B.E.”
While Kobe Bryant and Tyra Banks collaborating on a song was probably laughed at as a bizarre idea at the time of its release, it now marks an iconic moment in pop culture history. After deciding during a run-in at The Kids Choice Awards to hop in the studio together, the unlikely musical duo premiered their track, “K.O.B.E.”, with a performance at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game. “K.O.B.E.” also served as the title track for the late basketball legend’s first and only studio album. The memory of the song’s existence may now be buried deep in people’s subconscious minds, but Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club rehashed it during their recent interview with Tyra Banks.
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Banks was asked to speak on her relationship with Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26. While the two fell out of touch for what Banks estimated to be about ten years, she only has fond memories to share of him. She recalled first meeting Bryant when he was only 17 years old. They were put in contact by a mutual friend, who asked Banks to meet with the promising wunderkind to introduce him to life in Los Angeles. “He sits on my couch and I just school him on LA – what to look out for and ‘here’s my number if you ever need anything,'” the former supermodel said. “So to me whenever I saw him, I just saw that 17-year-old kid in my eyes.”
The conversation then shifted to “K.O.B.E.” Banks remembered witnessing the “little spark” between Bryant and with his wife, Vanessa, when they first met on the set of the song’s music video. While some may mock the song, Banks still “actually [thinks]” it’s “good.” She just wishes she wasn’t chosen to do the “baby voice” in the chorus. DJ Envy then wanted to give “K.O.B.E.” a spin on air for old time’s sake, but Charlamagne tha God had reservations about this. “I don’t think Kobe wants you to do that,” Charlamagne suggested. “I think Kobe would not approve of this.”
You can hear Banks sharing her Kobe memories at the 37:40-mark in the video 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.
Dave East Struts The New York Fashion Week Catwalk: "Big Stepper"
Tyra Banks once told him he should be a model, so he may have finally taken her advice.
The rap game has proven to be successful for Dave East, but just in case it doesn’t work out, he always has a career as a fashion model. Hip hop was all over New York Fashion Week as celebrities shared photos of themselves sitting first row at various shows, but Dave East switched things up and took his strut to the runway.
John Lamparski / Stringer / Getty ImagesThe Survival rapper was featured in the show for Hakan Akkaya on Tuesday (February 11). “Big Stepper @hakanakkaya,” Dave wrote in a caption of one of his Instagram photos. People couldn’t help but make note of his shoes and threw a few playful verbal jabs his way. He took the jokes in stride. “(The Comments Bout The ? Got Me ?).”
Back in 2017, Tyra Banks told Dave that he should seriously consider a career as a professional model. She shared a picture of the rapper to her Instagram page and asked him why he wasn’t smizing for the cameras. He gave a light-hearted response, but it looks as if she may have planted a seed. Check out a few photos below, as well as a video of Dave in action. We also included Tyra’s three-year-old post for good measure.
Tyra Banks & Boyfriend Louis Bélanger-Martin Are "Very Much In Love"
Good for Tyra.
It's been some time since Tyra Banks has been linked to anyone on the romantic front. The top model has been linked to a number of known faces over the years of her career such as Will Smith, Seal, Jonn Singelton and more. Page Six now reports that Tyra's new man, Canadian businessman Louis Bélanger-Martin, are still going strong.
Emma McIntyre/Getty ImagesAccording to the publication, the duo has been dating for over a year and is said to be "pretty happy." Apparently, when he isn't travelling for work, he's always by Tyra's side and even her friends are all aware of her new love since she was “very quick to introduce him as her man.” The couple was recently spotted at the TCL Chinese Theatre for the premiere of Bad Boys For Life in Hollywood.
Their first public outing together was in October of last year when they were seen having a romantic date and later after that, they were reported to have moved in together.
Tyra has one son with her ex, Erik Asla, named York and previously detailed the struggles she underwent with undergoing in vitro fertilization. "I think I'm lucky, you know, I did it for about a year and a half of IVF and some women do it for years and years and years," she said.
