An America’s Next Top Model alum has offered a behind-the-scenes look at the stress of the show’s ‘insane’ challenges. This comes after host Tyra Banks was swept up in controversy over comments she made about the contestants.
Don Benjamin once struggled to make it in Hollywood, living in a one-bedroom apartment with five friends, playing video games for food, and even at one point relying on welfare.
But that all changed after he was cast on cycle 20 of the show, known as ‘guys and girls’ because of its co-ed cast.
While Benjamin credits the show for giving him his break big, the wildly-popular series came under fire in the years that followed. Many viewers took issue with photoshoots, such as one where models were made to look like they were of different ethnicities.
Now, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Benjamin, 38, recalled how the show pushed the envelope to deliver ‘good TV’ – and the pressure he put himself under to advance.
‘I love Tyra,’ Benjamin told the Daily Mail. ‘I think being in it, it definitely is different than what you expect going on to it. But again, it’s reality TV. They need the stakes to be high.
An America’s Next Top Model alum has praised host Tyra Banks (right) and described how the controversial series pushed the envelope to make ‘good TV’
ANTM debuted in 2003, but it wasn’t until 2020 that both the show and Banks (pictured) faced criticism for their approach to selecting a model
‘They need people on edge, and anxiety and tension to create good TV.
‘There’s moments where it’s like, “Yo, this is insane.” But for the most part, I mean, I don’t put nothing on Tyra.’
Benjamin said Banks always had a good attitude on set. And while things got ‘stressful’ behind the scenes, he was grateful for the experience that helped move his career forward.
‘Tyra always showed up, always happy, always, you know, showing love to everybody,’ he said. ‘The production sometimes, trying to figure things out, definitely got a little stressful. But I can’t knock it because it got me to where I am today.’
Benjamin said the outrageous competitions come with the territory of reality TV, as does a loss of privacy.
‘The thing is, you have to go into opportunities knowing what you’re getting yourself into,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘And with reality TV, you’re putting everything out there.’
He said throughout the whole show, contestants are, in a way, ‘just letting all privacy go out the door.’
‘There’s no doors, there’s cameras in your face 24/7. I’m usually a more private person.’
He explained that, on his season, ‘Everybody is sleeping in one room and [sharing] bathrooms – no girls in the bathroom – and stuff like that.’
But Benjamin was willing to put up with the wild conditions in order to avoid getting eliminated.
‘There’s moments where it’s like, yo, this is this is insane,’ Benjamin (pictured) said of the outrageous challenges on ANTM
Benjamin (pictured) has recalled how the show pushed the envelope to deliver ‘good TV’ – and the pressure he put himself under to advance in the show
Still, he said the challenges were especially mentally taxing because he knew how much potential they had to impact his career.
‘In your mind, you’re like, “This can make my career… I need this moment. So, if I don’t do this photoshoot the right way or do this challenge, I can get cut from the show, and then it’s back to reality,”‘ he said.
But Benjamin told the Daily Mail he has not held a single grudge against the show, nor the brains behind the operation.
He told the Daily Mail he is still in touch Banks – who even ‘vouched’ for his 2020 memoir, My Truth.
‘She helped me with that. Whenever I need advice on films or producing projects, she’s always a phone call away,’ he said.
America’s Next Top Model debuted in 2003, but it wasn’t until 2020 that both Banks and the series faced public backlash over their methods.
In response to the backlash, Banks (second from right) acknowledged the ‘insensitivity’ of particular moments in the show and said she agreed with the feedback
Benjamin recently welcomed his second child with wife Liane V Benjamin (pictured)
Benjamin (right) and his wife (left) at the premiere for his new horror film Him last month
Among the disconcerting clips discussed by critics was one of Banks branding the size six contestant ‘plus size’ (plus-sizes typically start at 12). One judge could even be heard calling the contestant ‘fat’ and ‘huge,’ leaving many people on the web disgusted by their statements.
It wasn’t the only time contestants were criticized about their body sizes.
Numerous other clips have been circulating the web – including one that showed the series’ photo director telling a model that she needed to ‘take better care of her body’ after she gained some weight, and another that featured judges asking a contestant to dress like an elephant after they called her diet unhealthy.
During one photoshoot, a deaf contestant was forced to pose in complete darkness. He couldn’t see his translator as a result.
Banks has also been slammed over the years for asking gay contestants to tone down their personalities, seemingly allowing models to make transphobic comments on air, and amplifying some of the women’s flaws or forcing them to change their appearances.
Back in 2022, 30 former crew members and contestants were interviewed by Business Insider for an explosive article, in which they detailed some of the the horrific experiences that they allegedly faced during their time working on the show. Some accused Banks of not ‘giving a f***’ about their wellbeing, and claiming that the competition put their ‘lives on the line for the sake of ratings.’
Some models said they were left ‘traumatized’ after appearing on the popular show, while others said that they suffered from ‘panic attacks’ on set and weren’t offered medical treatment.
Benjamin (left) and Princess Love (right) spoke with the Daily Mail exclusively about their lives and film, Adopted 2
The movie comes out October 10 on Tubi. Him was released in theaters last month and is also available on Prime
In May 2020, Banks took to X (then Twitter) to address the backlash, which came after it was added to streaming service Netflix.
‘Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you,’ she wrote.
‘Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs.’
Benjamin appeared on the show in 2013 and was eliminated in episode 12, but he returned again for a subsequent challenge on cycle 22.
Nowadays, Benjamin – who recently welcomed his second child with wife Liane V Benjamin – is reaping the rewards of all the hard work he put in early in his career.
Banks (pictured) acknowledged the backlash over ANTM in 2020, saying she agreed with the criticism
Benjamin played Ariana Grande’s love interest in her 2016 music video, Into You, and recently starred in Cardi B and Kehlani’s music video, Safe.
‘Ariana and Cardi were both just very down to earth, cool people,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘And it was long shoots. The video with Ariana, we were shooting almost 24 hours.
‘It’s a lot of kissing scenes and it was very loving. But it was a good time, it was fun. The video has passed 1 billion views, so that’s pretty cool.’
When asked if it is odd to kiss celebrities on camera, he said, ‘It’s just acting.’
He said it would get slightly weird only because he was in relationships during those times, but ‘as long as you keep it professional and just look at it as acting’ there’s no harm.
He has two movies out this month: Him and Adopted 2. He plays a father in both.
Benjamin stars opposite Princess Love Norwood in Adopted 2, directed by Chris Stokes. They play as a grieving couple that adopts a young boy. Unbeknownst to them, the child has murderous tendencies.
Benjamin (pictured) is now reaping the rewards of all the hard work he put in early in his career
Benjamin (right) and Princess Love (left) play a couple who adopt a dangerous young boy in Adopted 2
The actor recently starred in Cardi B and Kehlani’s music video Safe (pictured)
In 2016 he starred opposite Ariana Grande in her steamy video Into You (pictured)
‘It’s a crazy thing to think about, like adopting this kid, and [he tries] to take out an entire family,’ he said.
Benjamin was approached for the part, and fell in love after reading the script.
‘I watched the first Adopted, and I loved it,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘The kid was amazing.’
The movie comes out Friday on Tubi, while Him was released in theaters last month and is also available on Prime.
His life now is a far cry from what he endured in his early days.
‘Those moments keep me humble,’ he said. ‘They keep me hungry for more, they keep me focused on what I got to do. Because coming from struggle from welfare, living in a one bedroom with five of my buddies, playing video games to get food, and now being on the big screen and and successful but still wanting more for myself and my career.’
His past has also made him realize just how delicate it all is, prompting him to stay ‘focused on my family.’
‘No matter how much money you’ve got, you can wake up the next day and it could all be gone,’ he said.
‘So you’ve got to be thankful for what you got, and just keep your eyes on the prize, and focus on what we have here.’
