Tyra Banks is at the eye of a 'blackface' media controversy storm
(Pottle Productions Inc)
Just one day after Tyra Banks chose Nicole Fox to be "America's Next Top Model," the popular host and producer faces yet another decision--how best to explain the use of "blackface" on the show's models.
In a Hawaiian photo shoot on an episode of "Top Model," the remaining women had their bodies darkened to comprise different races. After the episode aired, the media controversy began, as some thought the shoot echoed back to the days when blackface was common practice in theater and film.
Banks took to her daytime talk show to clear the air, saying, “What we thought was a celebration turned out to be… very negative in some of the press and a lot of them were even saying that it was a former of racism,” Tyra said. “A lot of them went so far as to accuse me and ‘Top Model’ of putting the girls in blackface.”
“I want to be very clear: I, in no way, put my ‘Top Models’ in blackface,” she said. “I’m a black woman. I am proud. I love my people and the struggle that we have gone through continues and the last thing that I would ever do is be a part of something that degraded my race.”
Though Tyra fervently believes the shoot did not cross the line, she did apologize to anyone who took offense.
“I’m sorry to anybody that watched ‘Top Model’ and was offended by the pictures because they didn’t understand the real story behind them or even if you did see the whole episode and you were still offended, I truly apologize because that is not my intention,” she said. “My intention is to spread beauty and break down barriers.”
“It is a passion of mine, it’s one of the reasons why I live and breathe and what I feel my duty is and it is definitely my number one passion in my life, to expand the definition of beauty, to stretch the boundaries and help young girls raise their self esteem by teaching them to embrace their beauty… to look in that mirror and see that different shade of their skin and say… ‘This is beautiful,’” she said.
Nicole Fox, who won "Top Model," jumped to Tyra's defense today, as well. In an interview with Pop Eater, Nicole said she felt people might take the photo shoot the wrong way when she taped the segment.
"We thought it might happen, but honestly, we all thought, 'God I hope not,' because that's so immature, so stupid!" Nicole said. "I mean, clearly, Tyra is not a racist. It's ridiculous!"
Watch the video below which shows one person's view on Tyra Banks, "Top Model," and the blackface controversy.
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