Tyra Banks Under 'ANTM' Cycle 25 Pressure as Netflix Documentary Reignites 'Cruelty' Backlash

Tyra Banks is once again back under the spotlight and at the centre of a storm she once created. Talk of a possible Cycle 25 of 'America's Next Top Model' has resurfaced, but so too have long-standing criticisms and accusations about the show's harsh treatment of contestants.

The renewed attention comes as Netflix prepares to release a new documentary, 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model,' in June. The announcement alone was enough to stir interest and curiosity. Fans began wondering whether the documentary might be more than just a retrospective, and whether it could open the door to a revival.

Banks herself has not confirmed anything. Still, the timing has been enough to reignite debate about the show's legacy, which has remained complicated since it ended in 2018 after 24 cycles.

Netflix Spotlight Fuels Cycle 25 Rumours

Speculation grew quickly after viewers connected the upcoming documentary with the possibility of a new season, Cosmopolitan UK noted. That curiosity only intensified when Banks appeared to tease the idea in episode three of the docuseries, titled 'Rooting for You'.

'After the show I had so many big ideas for my life', Banks said. 'I'm obsessed with pivoting and I live in Australia now. I feel like my work is not done. You have no idea what we have planned for Cycle 25'.

The comment was brief but enough to set social media buzzing. Some fans saw it as a hint. Others wondered whether she was simply keeping the franchise alive in people's minds.

At the same time, reports have suggested Banks is focused on other ventures, including her SMiZe and Dream ice cream business. In a 2024 interview with E! News, the 52-year-old model turned host spoke fondly about the show but stopped short of announcing any formal return.

For now, the uncertainty lingers, and with it, comes renewed scrutiny.

Adrianne Curry-Rhode Steps In

As criticism resurfaced and the backlash continues to intensify, Adrianne Curry-Rhode, the show's first winner, comes to the rescue and publicly defended Tyra Banks. According to TMZ on 16 February 2026, Curry-Rhode acknowledged that the experience could be intense but argued that reality television operated differently at the time.

She suggested it was important to view the show in the context of its era, rather than through today's standards.

Her comments drew mixed reactions. Some viewers appreciated her perspective, noting that the show gave contestants opportunities they might not otherwise have had. Others felt her defence overlooked the emotional stress some former participants have since described.

Old Wounds Reopened

The debate deepened after a culture feature by BBC News revisited the show's history and questioned aspects of its approach.

One moment often cited involved contestant Shandi Sullivan. Her personal life became part of the storyline in a way that many viewers later said felt uncomfortable to watch. Clips from that episode still circulate online, often prompting renewed discussion.

At the time, dramatic makeovers, emotional confrontations and surprise eliminations were part of what made the show compelling, resulting to high ratings. They drew audiences and defined the format. But years later, those same moments are being viewed through a different lens, raising ethical concerns.

Many viewers now question whether the pursuit of dramatic television effects and entertainment sometimes came at a high personal cost.

A Legacy on Trial

What once felt like simple nostalgia has become something more complicated. The possibility of a Cycle 25 revival now sits alongside a broader reassessment of what 'America's Next Top Model' represented.

There is no denying the franchise's influence. It helped reshape fashion television and turned Banks into one of reality TV's most recognisable figures. While it remains part of the audiences' formative viewing, the renewed attention also ensures that difficult conversations remain part of its story.

If the Netflix documentary succeeds, it could introduce the show to a new generation. It could also force longtime viewers to reconsider what they once accepted without question.

For Tyra Banks, any return would come with new expectations and a far more critical audience. The question is no longer just whether 'America's Next Top Model' should come back. It is whether people are ready to see it again, knowing what they know now.