Netflix Docuseries Reveals Harrowing Account of Abuse on ‘America’s Next Top Model’
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A new Netflix docuseries, “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” has ignited widespread outrage by revealing a deeply troubling incident involving Shandi Sullivan, a contestant on Cycle 2 of the popular reality competition. The series sheds light on a sexual assault that occurred during filming in Milan, exposing a culture of neglect and exploitation by the show’s producers.
Shandi, then 21 and working at a Walgreens, entered the competition encouraged by her boyfriend. The show portrayed a controversial episode in which Shandi appeared to drunkenly hook up with a male model in a hot tub and later in bed. The narrative focused on Shandi’s perceived wrongdoing, framing her as having “cheated” on her boyfriend. However, the documentary reveals a far more harrowing truth.
Shandi recounts that after a long day of filming, she was exhausted, hungry, and intoxicated when male models were invited over for dinner. She recalls entering the hot tub and then blacking out as the male model sexually assaulted her. “Everything kind of after that is just a blur,” Shandi says. “No one did anything to stop it. And it all got filmed. All of it. Every moment of it.”
Despite the assault unfolding in front of the crew, production did not intervene. Instead, they continued filming and later orchestrated scenes to reinforce a narrative that Shandi was at fault. The next day, Tyra Banks, the show’s host and executive producer, was filmed advising contestants about cheating, implicitly targeting Shandi. When Shandi demanded to leave and speak to her boyfriend, producers withheld her phone and insisted on filming the conversation, further compounding her trauma.
Shandi also describes being forced to confront the male model on camera and having to ask whether he had used protection. The trauma extended beyond the show when Tyra Banks aired the footage on her talk show, despite Shandi’s explicit requests not to watch it. “You didn’t respect that at all,” Shandi said. “That was miserable. Miserable.”
The aftermath left Shandi emotionally shattered. She and her boyfriend struggled to maintain their relationship amid public scrutiny and harassment, with strangers verbally abusing her in public. “After the show, I felt really broken,” she recalls.
When confronted in the documentary, Tyra Banks appeared evasive, stating, “It’s a little difficult to talk about production because I’m…that’s not my territory,” deflecting responsibility to executive producer Ken Mok. Mok described the show as a documentary capturing “the good, the bad, and everything in between,” and admitted that the assault scene was “scaled back” in editing but remained “one of the most memorable moments.”
The revelations have sparked intense criticism of the show’s leadership and production team for failing to protect contestants and for their ongoing refusal to accept accountability. Advocates emphasize the importance of safeguarding participants in reality television and call for stricter oversight.
“Reality Check” highlights the urgent need for reform in the entertainment industry to prevent exploitation and abuse. The incident underscores concerns raised by organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about workplace safety, including in media production environments. Additionally, the FBI’s guidelines on sexual assault investigations stress the importance of immediate intervention and victim support, which were notably absent in this case.
As public discourse intensifies, calls grow louder for networks and producers to implement comprehensive protections for reality TV participants. The Federal Communications Commission has previously issued guidelines to ensure ethical broadcasting standards, but critics argue these measures must be expanded to address behind-the-scenes conduct.
Shandi Sullivan’s story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost behind reality television’s glossy facade and the critical need for accountability in the industry.
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