Trigger Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault.
There’s a lot more to the story of the infamous “cheating scandal” on America’s Next Top Model. In Netflix’s new docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan claimed that an on-camera sexual encounter was actually non-consensual. She said producers reframed the moment into a storyline about her cheating on her boyfriend. It’s the darkest revelation from the docuseries, and former ANTM photographer Nigel Barker has weighed in on the disturbing claims.
Nigel Barker was shocked watching the ANTM footage back
The controversial Shandi scene happened in Cycle 2 after the cast traveled to Milan, Italy. The contestants brought some locals back to the model house. According to Shandi, she drank two bottles of wine before blacking out during an encounter with one of the men they brought home. She said the ANTM cameras rolled as the man “threw” her into the shower before moving her to the bed.
“No one did anything to stop it. And it all got filmed, all of it,” Shandi said in the Netflix doc.
The moment was later presented to audiences as a cheating scandal. Producers had Shandi call her boyfriend on camera to break the news that she had sex with someone else. That phone call didn’t go well. He called her a “bitch” and berated her. They presented it on the show as a juicy storyline.
As reactions continue to pour in from these accusations, Nigel spoke to Entertainment Tonight. He said he felt shocked that the show allowed such a thing to happen. He called it a “low point” both for ANTM and reality TV in general.
“The fact that there was nobody there, as sort of in a parental manner looking after these girls, caring for them,” Nigel said.
He went on to reiterate that as a panelist, he had “absolutely no idea” that this happened. He saw it on TV and felt surprised that they “allowed that to happen.” However, he chopped it up to the producers being desperate for ratings.
He said, “ Those aren’t the decisions I would’ve made, but perhaps that’s why I’m not the producer of America’s Next Top Model.”
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model is streaming on Netflix.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NIGEL’S COMMENTS? DO YOU AGREE THAT THE CONTESTANTS SHOULD HAVE HAD SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE AS A “PARENTAL” FIGURE?
