There is a traceable and unforgivable litany of problematic misdeeds leading to the backlash and controversy.
Models who have taken part in ANTM reported still being confronted with the emotional trauma they were put through.
Sarah Hartshorne, a participant in Cycle 9 of ANTM, talked about the insidious nature of what goes behind the scenes.
The plus-size model turned comedian, Hartshorne, came into the forefront of the controversy when she clarified on TikTok that the participants were only compensated with $40 per day.
They had to pay for their food on their own as well.
Tyra Banks posing for a photo. (Source: Instagram)
Hartshorne further elaborated that during the early stages of filming, all participants were rounded up in a room, made to sit down on the floor, and were lectured by the show's executives about their non-disclosure contract.
Everyone had to sign it, and everyone was aware of the fact, she said. But, despite this, the executives made their point of establishing their already obvious dominance and authority.
They further went on to threaten the $10 million penalties that will roll over to the participants' loved ones if disobeyed.
All of these came to light with the knowledge of Banks earning $30 million on a season as a co-producer. Now it is realized that this fortune came on the backs of impressionable young women, further fueling the controversy.
Among the other problematic behaviors on ANTM, she was also seen coercing a participant to go under the knife to be more "marketable." The backlash regards itself towards exploitation and narrow beliefs of beauty.
