Tiffany Richardson Slams Tyra Banks Over 'America's Next Top Model' Doc

The former contestant claims Banks was a "bully" and wants to confront her face-to-face.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 2:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tiffany Richardson, a contestant on cycle 4 of "America's Next Top Model", has spoken out against Tyra Banks and the show's portrayal of their infamous on-set confrontation. In a series of social media posts, Richardson accused Banks of being a "lying ass tired ass bitch" who "treated me like shit" and made "the nastiest things" about her and her son. The comments came after the release of the Netflix docuseries "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model", which featured Banks addressing the incident.

Why it matters

This feud between Richardson and Banks highlights the ongoing tensions and controversies that have surrounded "America's Next Top Model" over the years, particularly around how the show and its host have treated contestants, especially women of color. The docuseries has reignited these discussions and brought more scrutiny to Banks' leadership and behavior on the show.

The details

In the Netflix docuseries, Banks admitted that how she spoke to Richardson is something she still regrets, saying "Tiffany, that girl, that girl was my heart. She didn't make it the first year because she got into a fight in a bar. But we mentored her off camera and said, 'We feel like this show is gonna be amazing for you, let's get you the help you need.' When I see this beautiful girl who made some mistakes in the season before and didn't make it and then we worked with her to get her here, and then to see her kind of giving up." However, Richardson refutes Banks' version of events, claiming the host was a "bully" who said "the nastiest things" about her and her son, and that the argument was edited to make it look like Banks cared. Richardson also challenged Banks to "sit down with me face-to-face and talk about it."

  • The Netflix docuseries "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model" was released on February 16, 2026.

The players

Tiffany Richardson

A former contestant on cycle 4 of "America's Next Top Model" who has spoken out against Tyra Banks and the show's portrayal of their confrontation.

Tyra Banks

The creator, host, and executive producer of "America's Next Top Model" who has addressed the infamous incident with Richardson in the Netflix docuseries.

Jay Manuel

A former creative director on "America's Next Top Model" who called the confrontation between Banks and Richardson the "most difficult moment on set I had ever experienced."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Hold up @tyrabanks let's keep it cute .. you are 1 lying ass [tired] ass bitch.. you know how you treated me the whole time off and on camera, YOU WAS A BULLY!!! You treated me like s*** and said the nastiest things about me and my son.”

— Tiffany Richardson

“Tiffany, that girl, that girl was my heart. She didn't make it the first year because she got into a fight in a bar. But we mentored her off camera and said, 'We feel like this show is gonna be amazing for you, let's get you the help you need.'”

— Tyra Banks

“I will probably never repeat the lines that were actually said in the room that day.”

— Jay Manuel, Former Creative Director, America's Next Top Model

What’s next

It's unclear if Tiffany Richardson and Tyra Banks will sit down for a face-to-face discussion to address their long-standing feud.

The takeaway

The ongoing tensions between Tiffany Richardson and Tyra Banks highlight the need for greater accountability and transparency in reality TV, particularly around how contestants, especially women of color, are treated both on and off camera.