Tyra Banks calls out ‘homophobic’ contestant on ‘Top Model’
By Josh Haggis
Tyra Banks has called out a contestant on America’s Next Top Model for making remarks that could be construed as homophobic.
During last week’s episode of the long-running US reality show, Denzel Wells made derogatory comments about his fellow contestant Will Jardell, who is gay, saying that he didn’t enter the competition to be “beaten by a dude wearing high heels”.
Having been made aware of what Wells said about the gay competitor, Banks proceeded to tell him off later in the show.
“This is an industry that is predominantly female,” Banks said. “So whenever you step into an industry that is predominantly a certain sex, you get the stereotype that you are gay. Be proud of this industry and every single male model, gay, straight, heels, corsets — who gives a fuck?”
She then said to Wells: “I want to take you back 50 years and imagine you overheard Will say, ‘I hope that Denzel guy doesn’t win, because if a black guy wins my friends at home are going to say I’m his bitch.”
Watch Banks’ calling Wells out for his comments below.
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUDSaRXng9I[/youtube]
Meanwhile, a close relationship between Will Jardell and another of his fellow contestants, Matthew Smith, has blossomed on the show in recent episodes– find out more here.