'Heartbreaking and upsetting!' Nigel Barker shocked by ANTM Netflix doc stories that 'were never acceptable'
'Reality shows today are very different'ANTM judge Nigel Barker has opened up about working on the hit show following the release of the explosive Netflix documentary, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.
Nigel, famously proclaimed by host Tyra Banks as a “noted fashion photographer” during each judging, joined the show during Cycle 2 and remained until Cycle 18.
In total, ANTM enjoyed 24 successful seasons. However, despite its huge ratings, the show hasn’t been shy of backlash and controversy.
In the doc, Nigel joined Tyra and fellow executive producer Ken Mok in discussing the show’s history and its problematic scenes, alongside other judges and contestants.
The likes of Cycle 4 contestant Keenyah Hill discussed the lack of support she faced when telling Tyra and the judges that she was assaulted on set by a male model. She also believed they bodyshamed her for the sake of a storyline.
Elsewhere, Cycle 2’s Shandi Sullivan, who had a boyfriend at the time, opened up about the uncomfortable scene that was filmed between her and an Italian model. After drinking alcohol, she recalled passing out before realising the next morning that “something was wrong”.
Instead of production stepping in and helping her, she claimed they continued filming for their benefit. For years, ANTM tried to portray Shandi as the one at fault, naming the episode The Girl Who Cheated.
Nigel Barker on ANTM Netflix doc
The Netflix doc was met with a mixed reaction, with Tyra facing a lot of heat for being accused of not taking accountability.
In his own words, Nigel talked exclusively with TV Guide about how he’s felt about the reception so far.
“I think people have had a lot to say about America’s Next Top Model ever since it came out in 2003. It was a pop culture phenomenon. It made people talk, gossip, sit up and pay attention. And that hasn’t really changed,” he said.
“That said, there were things on the show that people loved. But there were also things that were difficult, harmful, and shouldn’t have happened to the contestants — to the models. That reckoning probably should have happened 15 or 20 years ago, but here we are now. And those conversations feel just as relevant today as they did then.”
‘That was never acceptable’
Nigel admits the show was far from perfect, recognising many things would be handled differently today. At the same time, he was clear that some scenes completely crossed the line.
“When you look at something 20 years later, a lot has changed. Not just hairstyles and fashion, but moral standards — how we conduct ourselves, what’s acceptable and what isn’t,” he said.
“There were definitely things that happened that shouldn’t have. Some of them, when you view them through today’s lens, clearly didn’t work and wouldn’t be acceptable now. And then there were moments — like what happened to Shandi — that weren’t okay in any era. That was never acceptable, regardless of the time.
“I think the bigger question is: how do we learn from it? How do we grow and make sure we don’t repeat those mistakes? Reality shows today are very different. Contestants are much more aware of what comes with being on that kind of platform, and hopefully, that awareness helps prevent some of the same missteps.”
‘It was very upsetting’
With each cast member filming their entries for the doc separately, Nigel admitted some revelations shocked him, including creative director Jay Manuel’s tense relationship with Tyra off-camera.
“I called Jay immediately and said, ‘God, Jay, I had no idea what was happening between you and Tyra.’ He’s a very private person. We’ve been friends for years, and he doesn’t talk about people behind their backs. If you tell him something in confidence, he keeps it that way. I think he was protecting his relationship with Tyra and was personally very hurt by a lot of things that were going on — things I didn’t know about,” he said.
He added that hearing Shandi’s situation was equally difficult.
“Similarly, with someone like Shandi — I’ve worked with her multiple times since the show, as I have with many of the models, on fashion projects and other jobs. She had never really voiced what happened to her in that way before.”
Nigel added: “So hearing it was heartbreaking. It was very upsetting. As a photographer and judge, I was only on set for one day of the week — to shoot the photos and then judge them. We weren’t privy to any of the behind-the-scenes dynamics. In fact, I saw the show for the first time the same way everyone else did — watching it on television.”
When was the last time Nigel Barker spoke to Tyra Banks?
Following Cycle 18, Nigel, Jay Manuel and Miss J. Alexander were axed from the show.
According to Tyra in the doc, she was told by the bosses above her that they needed to be let go.
Manuel explained they had all agreed to announce the news via a joint press release, where each of them was to have their own quote, and for them to say goodbye their way.
However, before they could even do so, a story “leaked” to Page Six that stated they had been fired.
Manuel hit back, stating: “There was no leak to Page Six. Anyone can see where that came from!” Nigel declared it was the “lowest point for me”.
So, when was the last time Tyra and Nigel spoke? “It’s been a couple of years since I last spoke to her. No, I have not spoken to her since the doc,” he said.
“We were never bosom buddies. We had a friendship; we were always cordial, and when you work together for 15 years, there’s naturally a bond. I had a huge appreciation for how hard she worked. She is an amazing woman who’s accomplished incredible things,” Nigel continued.
“At the same time, she was very private and guarded. She had her own life. However, I think part of why my run on the show lasted as long as it did is because I had my own life too. I kept to myself, didn’t get involved in gossip or behind-the-scenes talk.
“Maybe, with hindsight, if I had dug a little deeper, things might have been different. But at the time, I felt I was doing what I was there to do.”
Read more: 12 shocking moments from the America’s Next Top Model Netflix documentary that left us gobsmacked
