So much for ‘reality’ TV.
Although Tyra Banks has admitted to speaking insensitively about the aspiring models who took part in her early reality show “America’s Next Top Model,” judge Janice Dickenson says she doesn’t regret her harsh words, because she only “acted.”
“Um no. It was acting. And that’s that,” the 67-year-old former model offered on social media when asked if she regretted comments that read in 2022 like body-shaming and ageist.
“People forget that TV is acting,” she added, captioning the Instagram clip.
While the show’s creator Banks, 48, has faced backlash in recent years from both the public and former contestants for her role in allegedly exploiting competitors, Dickenson largely escaped criticism for her comments until last month, when images of runway pro label model Robin Manning “plus-sized” — claiming she wouldn’t as a result. win – surfaced again.
The Season 1 panel, which included Banks, Dickenson, Kimora Lee Simmons and Beau Quillian, also found the 26-year-old “too old” and “too fat” to model professionally.
According to Newsweek, Dickenson also has: seemed to make “monkey noises” after criticizing black contestant Kelle Jacob as she compared her retouched and unretouched images, saying she was “like a Hitchcock movie!”
Years later, Dickinson opened up about her role on the show, sharing on OWN’s “Where Are They Now?” in 2015, Banks hired her to “be like a female Simon Cowell — to talk about the girls in a negative way.”
Cowell was known for his harsh criticism of singers during the early seasons of “American Idol.”
In 2020, Banks acknowledged that she made some “off-choices” while producing the series.
“I’ve seen the reports about the callousness of some ANTM moments from the past and I agree with you,” Banks tweeted at the time. “In hindsight, those were some really bad choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and send you so much love and virtual hugs.”