Tyra Banks is a model and TV personality that people tend to love or hate. Banks is one of only a few black women who have been featured in Time Magazine's 'World's Most Influential People' issue multiple times, and she's inspired many with her "ugly duckling" story and astounding rise to fame and fortune.
She's hit many milestones in her life, like being the first black model on the cover of GQ, and she's done charity work galore.
The personal branding teacher, entrepreneur, author, and singer isn't beloved by all, however. Between conflicts with costars and fellow models, plus some controversial actions, she's made a few enemies along the way. Some celebs are quite vocal about their disdain for Tyra; others have tried to kiss and make up.
There's a story behind each of these 11 Celebs Who Can't Stand Tyra Banks (5 Who Are Part Of Her Inner Circle).
16 Can't Stand Her: Naomi Campbell
Tyra Banks has been open about her relationship with the famous supermodel, Naomi Campbell, who was, according to Tyra, "evil and awful". Naomi did whatever she could to make Tyra "go away." Tyra later said she understood it was about being a token black woman in the industry and Naomi told an interviewer that she was proud of Tyra.
15 Can't Stand Her: Angelea Preston
It's no wonder Angelea Preston couldn't stand Tyra. Angelea was disqualified from her big win due to her past as an escort, which meant that her winning episode never aired, but she was also critical of how Tyra ran the show. Preston said that the models weren't allowed to speak unless they were on camera, that they worked 20 hours at a time, and that they were treated like prisoners.
14 Inner Circle: Kimora Lee Simmons
Model/entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons began her career around the same time as Tyra and the two became close friends. They've known each other since Tyra was 17 years old and she considers Kimora to be like family. Tyra was the maid of honor in Kimora's wedding and she's the godmother of Kimora's daughter, Ming Lee.
13 Can't Stand Her: Ryan Singer
Comedian, Ryan Singer, is one of the most famous anti-Tyra personalities. He despises her so much that he's worked her into his comedy. He has remarked on Tyra's history of using fat suits to prove a point while she works as a supermodel. He thinks the fat suit thing contributed to people's body image problems.
12 Can't Stand Her: Paulina Porizkova
In 2009, judge Paulina Porizkova left America's Next Top Model. She later revealed to Craig Ferguson that she'd been fired on her birthday for having "a huge ego." It almost seems like par for the course to have an ego on a show like that, but Porizkova made it clear that she and Banks were not friendly. They only spoke during the show.
11 Inner Circle: Paulina Porizkova
In 2019, Porizkova and Banks reunited on friendlier terms, with Porizkova revealing that she'd learned valuable lessons from Banks, whom she now says "is a lady." She says that she often complained about her experiences on the show, but Tyra always kept it professional...and taught her to do the same.
10 Can't Stand Her: Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams has spoken out about Tyra Banks on multiple occasions. First, she criticized the model for talking about her experiences with Naomi Campbell years afterward, saying that she needed to move on. Later, she argued against her joining the cast of America's Got Talent, saying she wasn't fun enough or connected to the show.
9 Can't Stand Her: Adrianne Curry
Adrianne Curry is a model who has criticized Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model for not awarding models promised prizes according to their contracts. She says models were promised Revlon deals but the deals changed to voiceovers for the cosmetics brand during a show episode...without the models knowing about it until later.
8 Inner Circle: Beyoncé
Beyoncé gave a famously weird interview with Tyra once, where Tyra called the singer a number of strange names like Brie-oncé and Slosh-a Fierce. It was so strange that she actually recreated it with herself in 20202. The two are actually buddies in real life. Fans have spotted the two attending basketball games together.
7 Can't Stand Her: Chrissy Teigen
Rumors about a feud between models, Chrissy Teigen and Tyra Banks, ran rampant in 2015, during their FABLife days. Tabloids claimed they wouldn't speak to one another because there were issues between them regarding their age difference. Apparently, Chrissy refused to invite Tyra to her baby shower. Teigan tweeted that they weren't fighting as hard as people said they were.
6 Can't Stand Her: Janice Dickinson
Janice Dickinson has never been one to mince words, especially when it comes to Tyra Banks. Dickinson has called her cold, heartless and soulless, and she's stated that she wouldn't forgive Banks for all the tea in China. Dickinson has expressed remorse in the past, only to highlight for contempt for Banks later.
5 Can't Stand Her: Tiffany Richardson
Tiffany Richardson had good reason to hate Tyra after the model chewed her out on television and caused her to become an Internet meme. Banks even reportedly told her to go back home and sleep on a mattress with her baby. Richardson later said she understood that Tyra was yelling...from a place of love.
4 Inner Circle: Heidi Klum
Tyra loves to post about the gorgeous model, Heidi Klum, whom she refers to as her sister. On Twitter, Banks said that Heidi is kind...and beautiful inside and out. She also said that "some people think you can’t be a fierce supermodel if you’re nice, but Heidi is one of the fiercest ladies I know and love so much!"
3 Can't Stand Her: Winnie Harlow
When model, Winnie Harlow, insisted that America's Next Top Model did nothing for her career, Banks took umbrage to that statement, saying that she personally discovered her on Instagram. Harlow has stood by her statement, insisting that a fashion photographer, Nick Knight, was the key to her success. Winnie said that there's a reality TV show stigma in the business.
2 Can't Stand Her: Joel McHale
Another comedian who's used Tyra as a punchline in the past is Joel McHale, who not only poked fun at her during interviews but came across as so harsh to Tyra herself that he was threatened with legal action. He made fun of her on The Soup and during his own standup comedy act.
1 Inner Circle: Will Smith
Will Smith and Tyra Banks have been friends for many years. Tyra famously appeared beside him on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1993...and they've been friends since. They dated for a brief time when she was 19 and he was 24. They prove that exes can still be friends decades down the road.