American rapper Cardi B has called out Balenciaga while defending Tyra Banks following Banks’ return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show earlier this week (October 15). Cardi B was one of the guests in attendance as Banks made her first catwalk appearance in almost 20 years at the star-studded event in New York City.

After the event, Cardi B took to Instagram Live to address the backlash Tyra Banks had received over her treatment of the contestants in America’s Next Top Model in the 2010s.

In her live clip, the rapper defended Banks for her infamous judgments, stating that she was preparing the models for the harsh realities of the field.

“The thing about it is, y’all complain about this because the internet has made you m*therf*ckers sore. Y’all have become p*ssys. Everything is a complain – O my god, they put the girl through so much sh*t. It’s real life b*tch. It’s real f*cking life,” the rapper said.

Tyra Banks created the reality show America’s Next Top Model in 2003. From then on, she has hosted all seasons except the one hosted by American songwriter and actress Rita Ora. Over the years, Banks has received widespread criticism for her challenges and treatment meted out to contestants of the reality show.

Addressing this criticism, Cardi B defended the 50-year-old, describing the ruthless competition and hardships that models have to face in their careers. She said:

“Challenges that Tyra Banks used to give these b*stards is the sh*t that happens in the real f*cking world. The thing about it is that y’all complain about it because the internet has made y’all soft.”

Doubling down on the realities of the modeling industry, the rapper slammed Balenciaga. Cardi B recalled how she had to wear ill-fitting shoes on two catwalks, including her modeling gig at the Balenciaga fashion show last year.

“In real shows they make you do sh*t like that. You gotta f*cking walk around with a shoe that’s bigger than yours, so you gotta be gripping your f*cking toes like this. Or then you gotta probably wear a shoe that’s smaller than your foot,” she explained.
The rapper continued:

“I had to do that sh*t two times for the fucking Balenciaga show. That f*cking shoe fit me too big and I had to grip like that.”

Cardi B made her catwalk debut at the Balenciaga fashion show in Los Angeles on December 2, 2023. She wore a floor-length blue fur coat, accessorized with diamond jewelry, and long pink nails. As per CNN, the coat was part of Balenciaga’s pre-fall 2023 collection and retailed for $7,950. The rapper completed her runway debut ensemble with dark maroon lipstick and long black eyelashes.

The fashion show came just a year after Balenciaga’s controversy concerning a highly controversial advertisement that resulted in widespread backlash.

Tyra Banks once responded to backlash she faced for her comments on America’s Next Top Model

Tyra Banks once addressed the backlash she received for old clips from America’s Next Top Model that resurfaced on social media. One particular incident included her telling a contestant named Danielle Evans that she would never become a model because of the gap in her front teeth.

In a 2006 episode, Banks said:

“Do you really think you can have a CoverGirl contract with a gap in your mouth? It’s not marketable.”

Despite this critique, Evans ended up winning the season and landed contracts from giants like CoverGirl and Sephora.

In a now-deleted tweet in May 2020, Tyra Banks posted an apology for her interaction with Evans and other contestants who had to face her stern judgment.

“Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ‘ANTM’ moments and I agree with you. Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs,” she tweeted.