- - “ANTM” Winner Adrianne Curry Respects Tyra Banks for Not Apologizing amid Reality Show Controversy: She 'Owes You Nothing'

Catherine SantinoFebruary 18, 2026 at 3:07 AM

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Adrianne Curry; Tyra Banks.

Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic; Taylor Hill/Getty

America's Next Top Model season 1 winner Adrianne Curry said that she respects Tyra Banks for "not apologizing" in a new documentary about the reality series

"Keep on being yourself, which is someone who doesn't give a flying s---," Curry said of Banks in a biting social media message

In light of the documentary's release, the former model criticized the "woke lens" it takes

America’s Next Top Model season 1 winner Adrianne Curry is commending Tyra Banks for "not apologizing" amid controversies surrounding the reality series.

On Monday, Feb. 16, Curry, 43, spoke out about Netflix's three-part documentary series Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which revisits the competition show.

"I have mad respect for Tyra Banks," she says in a video shared to Instagram. "She is not sorry. She is not apologizing to you. That bitch is not effing sorry. She will not bend the knee. And I respect that. You want her to lie? Lie and say how bad she feels?"

Curry continues, "Everyone's coming to me like, 'None of the judges are sorry.' Why should they be? They're all loaded ... but mad respect for Tyra because that's hard to push back on that many people trying to struggle session you. She's just like, 'F--- you, I do what I want.' And I gotta respect that."

"So I tip my hat, my lady," she concludes the message. "Keep on being yourself, which is someone who doesn't give a flying s---."

Curry also wrote in the caption, "Tyra Banks owes you NOTHING!"

View this post on Instagram

Curry, who declined to participate in the docuseries, explained why she objects to revisiting the show in a series of posts shared to social media on Monday, Jan. 26.

"I think people psychoanalyzing it over 20 years later with a woke lens is absurd," she posted on X.

She also explained why she chose to sit out the documentary.

"I don't trust people to not manipulate things I say for TV, so I decline everything," Curry shared. "Also, the public is cult-like and cruel, so the last thing I want is a bunch of eyeballs on me."

She added, via Instagram, that "I have zero trust in any producers, no desire to be really public in this day and age, and am hard retired from Hollywood."

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After finding reality TV fame, Curry left the industry and now lives in Montana with husband Matthew Rhode.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model explores every aspect of the show's legacy, from groundbreaking visibility for models from underrepresented communities to the criticism it has faced in recent years over its harsh judging, commentary on contestants' bodies, extreme makeovers, racially offensive challenges, promotion of unhealthy lifestyle choices and treatment of contestants.

The series aired for 24 cycles from 2003 to 2018.

"It was very, very intense, but you guys were demanding it, so we kept pushing it, more and more and more," Banks, 52, says in the docuseries' trailer as some of the series' most controversial moments are seen in flashes through the trailer.

Banks is featured alongside executive producer Ken Mok and former judges Jay Manuel, J Alexander (Miss J) and Nigel Barker.

Curry called their participation in the docuseries "a cover up fest" when one fan said they feel the judges lacked accountability.

"It’s crazy that the Jays are acting like they can NOT believe the things Tyra was doing, but they were involved just the same," they wrote on X. “It was a different time. Modeling was about about pretty, skinny, and photogenic...much like today. Can't judge 20 years ago by today.”

"Let 'em weave their webs," Curry replied.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”