The new Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, explores all 24 cycles of Tyra Banks' hit modeling show—a series it’s impossible to talk about without recalling the host's infamous showdown with contestant, Tiffany Richardson.
The cycle four bust-up left Tyra’s fellow judges slack-jawed, and in the new series, Tyra offers her version of events as to why she popped off at Tiffany so badly. In Tyra's view, it was under the guise of being devastated that Tiffany didn't take the opportunities the show was offering her seriously, despite Tyra and the team truly investing in her—and since then, Tiffany posted (and deleted) a response branding this narrative a lie.
In an Instagram post, an account attributed to Tiffany seemingly wrote, "Hold up @tyrabanks let's keep it cute... you are 1 lying ass bitch... you know how you treated me the whole time off and on camera, YOU WAS A BULLY!!! You treated me like shit and said the nastiest things about me and my son. That is not how the argument went but YALL EDITED TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU CARED." Yikes!
Here's what else Tiffany has said about the show, more on Tyra's stance, and what happened to Tiffany once the cameras stopped rolling...
Who is Tiffany Richardson from America’s Next Top Model?
Tiffany Richardson is a former model from Miami who appeared on America’s Next Top Model in seasons three and four, back in 2004 and 2005. She quickly became one of the show’s most talked-about contestants, not just for her onscreen presence, but for the way the show framed her rags to riches story.
She was 22 at the time of her first appearance, something that came about after her grandmother encouraged her to enter the contest and move away from a life of stripping and drugs.
Tiffany spoke openly about her personal struggles, including anger management—which is what saw her kicked off of cycle three. During a night out, she tipped a beer over another woman’s head and was sent to anger management by the show’s producers, but she ended up coming back to compete on cycle four.
On the show, Tiffany often talked about her son, Chadrick, and viewers saw her as someone the judges wanted to succeed, building her up as a contestant with raw potential and a lot at stake. Sadly, it didn’t quite pan out as hoped.
Why did Tyra Banks yell at Tiffany on ANTM?
The blow-up happened during a shocking double elimination episode after Tiffany (along with fellow contestant, Rebecca Epley) was cut from the competition having failed to impress during a task that required her to read from a teleprompter.
In the judging room, Tiffany appeared to laugh and downplay being kicked off ANTM, telling the other women who were visibly upset at her departure, “Cheer up, water heads. [What are you] lookin’ all sad for?”—something Tyra said she interpreted as Tiffany not taking the opportunity seriously and being disrespectful.
In the Netflix docuseries, Tyra says she felt especially strongly about this given that the show had supported Tiffany prior to her return to cycle four, helping to get her competition-ready and in a better place mentally.
The episode sees Tyra tell Tiffany she is “extremely disappointed,” referencing Tiffany’s past, and the sacrifices her grandmother had made in order for her to compete (e.g. spending money on a swimsuit for Tiffany to compete in over paying some of her bills).
Tiffany responded saying that she was hurt, but couldn’t change who she was: “Looks can be deceiving. I'm hurt. I can’t change it, Tyra. I’m sick of crying about stuff that I cannot change. I’m sick of being disappointed.”
That’s when Tyra snapped, telling Tiffany she could have won the show’s life-changing modeling contract and other prizes—and delivering the now-iconic: “Be quiet, Tiffany… I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you! Learn something from this!”
The moment became one of the most recognisable GIFs of all time.
Where is Tiffany Richardson now?
In a 2017 interview with BuzzFeed, Tiffany said she was working at a group home in Miami supporting people with mental disabilities, and she described herself as “a completely different person” from who she was during her ANTM days.
Recalling her time on the show, she said, “I went into it thinking Tyra was God. To actually see her and the vibe is completely different. It was just weird.”
Of the iconic moment she was kicked off, the former model said, "It was beautiful for TV. They love to see Black girls struggling and somebody coming to save her…and that just didn’t work out that way this time.”
More recently, Tiffany’s name returned to headlines due to a devastating tragedy involving her much-loved son, Chadrick. The Sun reported that Chadrick died at the age of 21 after being shot at a GameStop in Pembroke Pines, Florida, during an alleged robbery in October 2023.
The outlet reported that a store manager told police he fired a “warning shot” but hit Chadrick, who later died in hospital.
In response to the Netflix series, Tiffany labeled Tyra a “liar” and said the show had been edited to make it look like Tyra cared when she didn't. In an Instagram post that was later deleted, Tiffany said: "FUCK YOU @tyrabanks I BET YOU WON'T SIT DOWN WITH ME FACE TO FACE AND TALK ABOUT IT!!
"Also Fuck MY FAMILY TOO. Y'all don't ever defend me, I got more money and [I am] helping more people than all or many of the top models but that's the update y'all give. Damn shame."
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is on Netflix now.
