In tonight's episode of 'America's Next Top Model,' Tyra Banks re-imagines the remaining contestants as biracial models through the use of skin darkening agents and ethnic costumes. Or, in other words, blackface. Photos of the models -- Jennifer An, Nicole Fox, Laura Kirkpatrick, Sundai Love, Brittany Markert and Erin Wagner -- can be seen at Entertainment Tonight.
This isn't the first time that the use of blackface has caused controversy recently. Just two weeks ago, the French edition of 'Vogue' sparked outrage when it published a spread featuring Dutch model Lara Stone done up in full-body blackface, while earlier this month Harry Connick, Jr. blasted an Australian talent show for featuring a troupe of blackface performers on an episode he was guest judging. And two months ago, one of the characters in the 1960s-era 'Mad Men' performed a song in blackface.
Whether or not 'Top Model' and its host Tyra Banks will garner the same level of consternation remains to be seen, but there's no doubt that blackface remains as controversial a topic now as ever. Dating back to the mid-19th century, the practice of white performers darkening their skin to perform racial caricatures is considered highly offensive to most Americans, making the recent upswing in incidents difficult to explain.
Of course, you can decide for yourself whether it's offensive when the episode airs tonight at 8PM ET on the CW. And perhaps that's all the explanation necessary.
Because we have a strange feeling that's what the producers intended all along.
What do you think: Is 'Top Model' going over the line?
Reader Comments (326)
Najin at 1:09AM on Oct 29th 2009
This isnt blackface, its acting. You're a nut. Google blackface and see the exaggerated, offensive makeup of blackface along with the mocking dances. All this is, is a revisit to a time when caucasians played different roles in cinema, its makeup and acting, not "blackface" which looks entirely different.
Susan at 9:56AM on Oct 29th 2009
I agree-it's just acting-get over it.
But, if we're going there:
Then what about that movie recently where 2 black men were done up in "whiteface" as women. I didn't see any flack on that. So, what I'm getting from this it that it's ok to stereotype white people (you can even make whole movies out of it) but not black people??
Tyra did a similar episode where she did transformed the models into multiple different races. There was no flack on that that I saw. So, what I'm getting from this is that it's ok to stereotype other races but not black.
Sherry at 10:25AM on Oct 29th 2009
All it shows is that Tyra is showing that Black "is" beautiful and no one should take offense to that. Whoever feels upset about it, has a problem.
shaunn at 10:49AM on Oct 29th 2009
ur right it wasnt as bad as blackface from the early 20th century but lets face it, because of what happened in the early 20th century to black americans we should not be reminded of such things today. especially since we ha\/e to be so politically correct when it comes to gays and animals. lets ha\/e the same sensiti\/ity when it comes to how bad black americans are treated. im sick of whene\/er something happens to an african american, the public resonates a feeling of" oh its not that bad," but how dare you call a gay a f** or do harm to an animal, then its the end of the world.
Ro at 10:36AM on Oct 29th 2009
Honestly I dont care either way but is it acceptable to most because it was on an African American show? What if the host was white would you have the same opinion?
Kenzie at 10:48AM on Oct 29th 2009
Agreed. There wasn't much mention about the shows previous use of body paint to change the race of the contestants. Black women posed as white women holding white children. White women posed as black women holding black children. There were also many other races from around the world represented by american born women of all races. I didn't hear of any controversy surrounding the white contestant posing as an eskimo. Tyra banks has posed as a white woman, which is why the contestants on the show pose as women of other races. Not to be offensive but on that show i've never seen any challenge aimed at degrading a certain race. I'm sorry but if the women were all painted brown and had a white outline around their mouthes then there would be cause for concern. The blackface performers of the mid 19th century were meant to represent the black race in a negative light. America's next top model is aimed at capturing the spirit of a race. If a white model from a privileged upbringing is supposed to model an african woman, then her real task is to capture what an african women is about. It's a challenge. And if the person putting the contestants in blackface, is black herself, where is all the controversy exactly?
Renee at 1:33PM on Oct 29th 2009
Thank you!! What Tyra did was not black face. I swear "folks" are so dam stupid it's a shame.
Chelsea at 1:34PM on Oct 29th 2009
I completely agree..there was nothing offensive about their appearances. These woman were asked to bring out the special qualities of the bi-racial individuals that inhabit hawaii as a result of the growth of sugar cane production. There is nothing offensive about bringing out the inner beauty of cultural mixes. I think it was a beautiful photo shoot and people just want to have something to gripe about. Get over it, lets talk about something important rather than something senseless.
Joan Johnson at 1:44PM on Oct 29th 2009
Acting is one thing, but the subject is still touchy to those who remember when music albums were portrayed by people who were not the musicians. Things like this can get out of hand and let's face it. There are members of our society will not accept change no matter how it is presented to them.
Amanda at 2:15PM on Oct 29th 2009
I'm white as can be and I see absolutely no problem with it. I actually think it'd be cool to see how I'd looked with brown skin (although it probably wouldn't come out well, lol: my facial features are very Italian). As long as it didn't affect the consciences of the female models, it wasn't done without their consent, and they had absolutely no problem with someone making them look completely different, then it's fine and dandy. Everyone changes their appearances for fun (body piercings, tattoos, plastic surgery, etc.), so why should this be any different?