Andy DehnartTyra Banks has issued a new self-centered statement about the stampede of models that interrupted auditions Saturday, and it noncommittally says that new auditions may be scheduled, but only because it serves Tyra’s purposes.
While the first statement from Tyra and Ken Mok just talked about the near-riot and said Tyra was “concerned by the events” but “[did not] know all the details,” the new statement ignores that negativity and has three sentences about Tyra, including four about Tyra that include lots of self-congratulations.
In the most obnoxious of those, she says models may get a second chance to audition not because they didn’t get to audition, but because it will help Tyra: “It is so important to me to redefine beauty, and make sure that everyone gets a fair chance to pursue their dream,” she says. Coming next week, probably: a special Tyra Banks Show episode about how Tyra felt when she watched footage of the stampede and saw her short-model dream-making dreams crushed by models crushing each other.
Here’s the new Tyra-centric statement:
To all the Top Model hopefuls who were affected by the New York casting, we are doing everything we can to make sure that ALL the girls who weren’t seen, get an opportunity to audition — we’ll update you on our plans very soon. It is so important to me to redefine beauty, and make sure that everyone gets a fair chance to pursue their dream. I am beyond excited for Cycle 13; for the first time ever, young women 5’7″ and under have a shot at becoming America’s Next Top Model! I encourage each girl to come out ready to rock the runway and show off their fiercest pose. I’m rooting for all of you!