Critics React to Moment “America’s Next Top Model ”Contestant Jaeda Young Was Forced to Kiss a Male Model Who Told Her He ‘Doesn’t Like’ Black Girls

**Controversy Erupts Over America’s Next Top Model’s Handling of Racism During a Challenge**

A recent episode of E!’s series *Dirty Rotten Scandals* has reignited discussions about the troubling dynamics present in *America’s Next Top Model*, particularly during its seventh cycle. Contestant Jaeda Young found herself in an exceptionally uncomfortable position while shooting a commercial with a male model, whose comments regarding Black women have come under scrutiny.

Delving into the incident, Young was paired with a male model who openly expressed his disinterest in Black women during a dinner, stating, “I don’t like [them].” This revelation set an unsettling tone prior to a challenge in which the models were tasked with performing a commercial that involved a kiss. In a segment of the episode, Tyra Banks, the show’s host, instructed Jaeda to deliver a kiss that might change the male model’s attitude, asserting, “Well you’re going to have to give him a kiss that makes him love some Black girls, ’cause what do they say? Once they go Black…”

Young’s visible distress in response to Banks’ directive was evident. When pressed to engage in the kiss, she remarked, “They don’t go back,” reflecting the uncomfortable truth of the stereotypes at play. Following this exchange, Jaeda is seen tearfully preparing for the scene, highlighting her emotional turmoil.

Cultural critic Rae Sanni condemned the show’s approach to this scenario, articulating that Young expressed her discomfort multiple times yet was compelled to participate in a “fake commercial with a real racist.” Sanni argued that such manufactured environments, which purported to simulate the modelling industry, ultimately did not reflect reality or respect the well-being of the participants involved.

This incident has drawn comparisons to a similar situation from the show’s fourth cycle, involving contestant Keenyah Hill. Hill recounted her own distressing experience, where she was partnered with a model who harassed her during a challenge. “He was hardcore flirting with me, telling me he was going to come to the States and find me and he wanted to be with me. It was just a lot,” she recalled, indicating the discomfort she felt personally.

Keenyah further described how the male model danced too close for comfort, exacerbating her unease. She was caught in a dilemma: advocating for herself while also facing backlash from the show’s experts, who dismissed her concerns as trivial. “It was flipped into me being a bit of a diva,” she mentioned, indicating the frustrating reality of being silenced while navigating a precarious situation.

These accounts from both Jaeda and Keenyah shed light on a larger issue within the show’s narrative framework: the trivialisation of serious racial dynamics in what is intended to be an entertaining competition. Critics have highlighted that the pressures of performing in front of cameras do not excuse the producers’ responsibility to create a safe and respectful environment for all participants.

The conversations ignited by *Dirty Rotten Scandals* have sparked renewed interest in how reality television can reflect and often exacerbate societal issues, such as racism and sexism. It questions the morality of challenging contestants in ways that ignore their emotional well-being and the shield of entertainment that often conceals real harm.

As discussions on race and representation continue to evolve in the media landscape, the recollections of previous contestants serve as critical reminders of the obligations networks hold to their talent. It remains to be seen how such critiques will influence future productions and their approaches to issues of race, gender, and participant welfare.

*Dirty Rotten Scandals: America’s Next Top Model* is currently available for streaming on AppleTV, allowing viewers to revisit the contentious moments that shaped the series. Would-be audiences are urged to reconsider the implications of the content and the realities faced by those on screen. The reflections of Jaeda Young and Keenyah Hill may serve not only as cautionary tales but also as calls for greater accountability within the industry moving forward.