After days of social media chatter, Tyra Banks finally has responded to criticism she went too hard on “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Danielle “Dani” Evans, who participated on season six of the show in 2006. Evans won the competition, but as part of the process was pressured by Banks to close the gap in her two front teeth during the competition.
Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you. Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs. ❤️
— Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) May 9, 2020
Weighing in with a Tweet, Banks wrote, “Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you. Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs.”
Prior to Banks’ statement, Evans took to Instagram where she provided a window into the never-aired scenes related to the back-and-forth over her gap.
According to Evans, contestants were provided with a visit to a dentist where they could choose from an array of complimentary services. While the dentist asked Evans if she wanted to close her cap, she was firm she didn’t want the procedure performed. When she later appeared before Banks and her team of judges (including Alexander Jenkins better known as Miss Jay) she felt ambushed when Banks criticized her for ignoring her dictate to close her gap, described by Banks on TV as “non-marketable.”
Jenkins concluded she would be eliminated if she didn’t close the gap and agreed to make a partial but not 100 percent correction to the spacing between her teeth.
Evans she said she was inspired to speak out about the episode after reading online comments including one from model Slick Woods (famed for her own gap), who said she was personally hurt by the episode.
There has been some push back on the critiques by those who view Bank’s behavior as relatively in line for a reality show filmed 14 years ago. Others have pointed out ANTM deserves credit as a show whose producer was a black woman and whose judges, production people and models were ahead of their time in terms of inclusive casting.
Check out Evans thoughts on the episode below, along with Woods post and the original ANTM scene in which her gap is discussed as problematic.
