Tyra Banks reflects on tough legacy of 'America's Next Top Model': 'We all evolve'
LOS ANGELES − Days after her shocking exit from MSNBC, Joy Reid received a warm embrace from some of Tinseltown's brightest stars.
The longtime political commentator, whose show was abruptly canceled Monday, was a surprise guest at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon early Thursday afternoon, where Issa Rae, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson and Niecy Nash gathered to celebrate movers and shakers in the film and TV industry. As she walked onstage, Reid was welcomed with a standing ovation and resounding shouts of "We love you, Joy!" from the crowd.
"Love you," Reid began, visibly overwhelmed by the enthusiastic greeting. "I think you guys might've heard that I recently went through a breakup."
She continued, explaining she's a multifaceted person: a wife, a mother, an author, a filmmaker and "someone who cares about this country and democracy."
"We are many things, so you can't take one thing away from us and say that you've taken all from us, because we are so multidimensional," Reid said. "And that is why it's so warm and powerful and important to be in this room at this time. Because we, as Black women, are living in a time of theft. Our history is at risk of being stolen away. Our political power, and our opportunity to participate in this democracy, is being threatened."
Reid also addressed the debate surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, calling them "a gift" to corporations. There is "nothing you can do to reverse the tide" of representation, she said.
"This country is becoming diverse whether you like it or not," Reid said, going on to reference Disney's 2023 live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" starring Halle Bailey. "If you want to sell dollies, you're going to need a Black mermaid. All the little Black and brown girls want to see themselves."
'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo, Teyana Taylor give emotional speeches
Guests ate lobster and sipped espresso martinis throughout the three-hour event, which was held in the ballroom of Los Angeles' Fairmont Century Plaza.
"The Jeffersons" icon Marla Gibbs and TV writer/producer Raamla Mohamed were each fêted, as was multi-hyphenate Teyana Taylor, who endeared the audience with a tearful speech that was as emotional as it was funny.
"Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo similarly had attendees in tears with her stirring words of affirmation after a hilarious introduction from Keke Palmer, who improvised her own "Defying Gravity" riff.
Tyra Banks admits 'America’s Next Top Model' didn't always 'get it right'
Trailblazing model Tyra Banks accepted the inaugural Luminary Spotlight award on Thursday. After a heartfelt thanks to her mom, who was her date, Banks reflected on her efforts to make competition series "America’s Next Top Model" more inclusive in the early 2000s.
"We fought to bring diversity to that television show at a time when it didn’t exist, a time when people in the fashion industry were telling me, 'Oh, you putting girls from the hood on your show?' " Banks said. "I was like, 'Why can a girl from the trailer park become a supermodel, but the girl from the hood can't?' We fought, and we struggled, and we made it happen."
The famously blunt TV host went on to say how, in retrospect, many people have unsavory opinions of the show, in part because of online edits of Banks' most ruthless feedback to modeling hopefuls.
"Did we get it right? Hell no," Banks said, adding that she said some "dumb" things. "But I refuse to have my legacy be about some stuff linked together on the internet when there were 24 (seasons) of changing the world. We all evolve. We all get better together. And I’m so excited that I, and so many others, have opened that door for others to follow."
Now in its 18th year, Essence Black Women in Hollywood is part of a whirlwind week of events leading up to Sunday's Academy Awards. The ceremony will stream Monday on Essence's YouTube channel (8 p.m. ET/5 PT), with a red carpet pre-show beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 PT.