This week’s episode of The Tyra Banks Show was all about America’s Next Top Model. The audience was introduced to the final four, Erin, Jen, Laura and Nicole, and the Fan Favorite competition was introduced. Tyra also gave Rachel Echelberger a second chance (Remember – she was eliminated after the Wilhelmina challenge?) by announcing BMG Models wants to sign her.

The biggest moment of the episode came when Tyra attempted to explain the biracial photo shoot from this cycle. She explained her rationale behind the shoot and then apologized to anyone who found it offensive.

I want to be very clear: I, in no way, put my Top Models in blackface. 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.

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. My intention is to spread beauty and break down barriers.

Tyra must have known that this photo shoot would be controversial. Because of this, I find her apology disingenuous. Stand by what you did, or don’t. I still don’t get how changing the color of the girls’ skin celebrates all skin tones and races. Given Tyra’s reasoning for the shoot, a more appropriate photo shoot would be to uncover the contestants’ personal heritage and then style them to celebrate that.

What do you think? Was the photo shoot offensive? Was Tyra right in apologizing?

Image: Pottle Productions Inc

Post from: Top Model Gossip