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Two decades after their notorious on-screen clash, Tiffany Richardson, a former contestant on “America’s Next Top Model,” has reignited her feud with Tyra Banks. Richardson, who became a household name during Cycle 4 of the show, has taken to social media to criticize the show’s host and former supermodel, Tyra Banks.
Fans of the reality series will recall the heated confrontation where Banks, in a moment that has since become iconic, chastised Richardson with the memorable line, “We were all rooting for you.” In a recent Netflix docuseries exploring the history of the show, Banks acknowledged that her reaction during the incident was excessive.
Nevertheless, Richardson didn’t hold back in a recent Instagram post, where she accused Banks of dishonesty, labeling her a “lying ass bitch.” Richardson went on to describe Banks as a bully, alleging, “You know how you treated me the whole time off and on camera, YOU WAS A BULLY!!!” She further claimed that Banks made disparaging remarks about her and her son.
According to Richardson, the infamous argument was manipulated in post-production to portray Banks as being more compassionate than she actually was. Richardson’s comments have once again brought attention to the controversial moments that have defined “America’s Next Top Model” over the years.
The former contestant claimed that their argument was “edited” to make it seem like Banks “cared” about her.
“F–K YOU @tyrabanks I BET YOU WONT SIT DOWN WITH ME FACE TO FACE AND TALK ABOUT IT!!!” Richardson went on, before also calling out her family for never “defending” her.
Richardson, who has been working at a group home in Miami supporting people with mental disabilities since 2017, also noted that she’s “got more money and helping more people than all or many of the top models.”
“damn shame.. it’s giving yall still hating on lil black ass me,” she added. “@tyrabanks hoe just let it go, ITS BEEN OVER 20 years 😭.”
Richardson’s post included a clip of their heated fight on the show.
In Netflix’s “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” docuseries, Banks reflected on her part in the pair’s “tough” altercation.
“I went too far. You know, I lost it,” the “Life-Size” actress admitted. “It was probably bigger than her. It was family, friends, society, Black girls, all the challenges that we have. So many people saying that we’re not good enough. I think all that was in that moment.”
“That’s some Black girl stuff that goes real deep inside of me, but I knew I went too far,” Banks added.
Jay Manuel, who was the show’s creative director, chimed in and called the incident “the most difficult moment on set I had ever experienced.”
He also claimed that after filming wrapped, “production staff literally just took Tyra off set.”
“There was a lot more that was really said,” Manuel stated. “And some of the things that were said, were really not well-intentioned. I’ll probably never repeat the lines that were said in that room, that day.”
Former “ANTM” judge and runway coach, Miss J. Alexander, called the fight “very scary” and said that lawyers were on set the following week.
In an interview with Buzzfeed in 2017, Richardson claimed that Banks’ verbal lashing was “1,000 times worse” in reality.
She also alleged that the “Coyote Ugly” actress told her during the rant, “You can go back to your house and sleep on your mattress on the floor with your baby.”
“It was just, like, bullsh-t,” Richardson said while reflecting on the fight. “It was so over-the-top for no reason.”
“Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model” is streaming on Netflix.