Whereas Netflix’s America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin docuseries reexamined Shandi Sullivan‘s onscreen sexual assault — together with what needed to be lower out from the ultimate edit — government producer Tyra Banks refused to debate the incident.
Throughout the three-part particular, launched on Monday, February 16, Sullivan recalled practically successful season 2 earlier than a gaggle journey to Italy.
“Once we first acquired there, they mentioned, you’re gonna go to a bunch of go-sees,” she mentioned of the 2004 episode. “That was all day lengthy. It took all day lengthy. After which we went again to our little home that we have been staying at.”
The locals who drove the aspiring fashions round in Vespas joined the forged for dinner. However Shandi, now 43, who had not “eaten something” that day, remembered consuming “two bottles of wine” by herself earlier than one of many guys took benefit of the state of affairs.
“I keep in mind him on high of me. I used to be blacked out. Nobody did something to cease it,” she claimed. “And all of it acquired filmed, all of it.”
Tyra, 52, an government producer and host of the present, declined to broaden on the sexual assault that passed off on display screen, saying, “I do keep in mind her story. It’s a bit of troublesome for me to speak about manufacturing as a result of that’s not my territory.”
Actuality Test: Inside America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin provided Shandi a platform to share her unfiltered account of the state of affairs. There was additionally perception from inventive director Jay Manuel and government producer Ken Mok about what passed off behind the scenes.
Hold scrolling for the most important revelations:
Shandi Sullivan Shares a Harrowing Recollection of the Sexual Assault
Earlier than becoming a member of America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin in 2004, Shandi Sullivan labored at her native Walgreens in Missouri. She was a part of the second season of the then-UPN collection, the place she made it to the ultimate 3 earlier than a gaggle journey to Milan.
“I don’t keep in mind who mentioned it, however any person was like, ‘How would you guys really feel about having, like, the blokes that have been on the mopeds come by and have dinner with you guys? And we’ll have some wine and stuff,’” she recalled. “I’m simply excited to only have an evening. We have been simply speaking, consuming. I don’t suppose I’d eaten something in any respect or had any sleep.”
Shandi didn’t keep in mind a lot of the night time from there.
“I keep in mind getting within the sizzling tub. I keep in mind April (Wilkner), Mercedes (Scelba-Shorte) getting within the sizzling tub. After which I simply keep in mind the man me and I checked out him. And I used to be fairly drunk at that time. Every thing type of after that’s only a blur,” she continued. “I used to be hammered.”
Whereas Shandi was allegedly barely acutely aware, the cameras saved rolling. ”I simply keep in mind little bits and items. He threw me within the bathe after which simply sitting within the bathe,” she famous. ”After which we’re within the mattress. I used to be blacked out for lots of it. I didn’t even really feel intercourse occurring. I simply knew it was occurring. After which I handed out.”
She concluded: “The subsequent day, I wakened. I used to be, like, ‘Holy s***, what the f*** occurred final night time?’ All of it f***king hit me. It simply flooded over me. I simply sat there and cried.”
Shandi Sullivan Addresses the Aftermath of the Sexual Assault
Regardless of Shandi Sullivan being too impaired to consent to intercourse, the incident was launched as a dishonest story line on America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin.
“I feel after getting out of the new tub and no matter occurred after that, I feel (manufacturing) ought to have been like, ‘All proper, this has gone too far. Now we have to drag her out of this,’” Shandi instructed the docuseries producers whereas government producer Tyra Banks had a unique response, saying, “It’s a bit of troublesome for me to speak about manufacturing as a result of that’s not my territory.”
Fellow government producer Ken Mok defended the choice to maintain filming. “We handled Prime Mannequin as a documentary. We instructed the ladies that on the primary day after they would present up. We might go over the principles with them like, ‘There’s going be cameras with you 24/7 – day in and day trip — and so they’re gonna cowl the whole lot,’” he recalled. “‘It would cowl the nice, the unhealthy and the whole lot in between. It doesn’t matter what occurs – whilst you’re on digicam – we’re going to doc all of that.’”
What Was the Crew Instructed About Shandi Sullivan’s Assault Behind the Scenes?
Artistic director Jay Manuel mentioned they “acquired phrase” that Shandi Sullivan was “having intercourse within the bathe with a man,” including, “The rule on Prime Mannequin was that when you went into a toilet alone, a digicam couldn’t observe you in. However when she went into the bathe, she was technically not alone. So the cameras went in and so they captured it. I don’t know whose determination it was however as producers do, this was a narrative level now and we’re going to see it throughout.”
Tyra Banks, a producer and creator of America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequinsubsequently spoke with Shandi concerning the infidelity because the contestant was in a relationship together with her then-boyfriend Eric.
“All people has tousled, Shandi. I’m not judging you. However I feel that we have now to combat towards our carnal needs,” she instructed Shandi on the time. “I perceive that individuals do turn out to be interested in different individuals. It’s all about your relationship and the way open your relationship is and the way trustworthy you may be with each other.”
Shandi Sullivan’s Notorious Name to Eric on ‘America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin’
Shandi Sullivan mentioned within the Netflix docuseries that she requested to name Eric, however was denied. She then requested to go away, which producers tried to speak her out of doing by then offering her with a cellphone to contact Eric — a dialog they then subsequently filmed.
“After I talked to Eric once more on the cellphone, they really filmed me speaking to the man and asking him myself, ‘Did you put on any safety? Do you could have any STDs?’” she recalled. “Why can’t you simply ask them your self? Why do it’s a must to movie this? You already acquired me on the cellphone with Eric calling me a f***king bitch.”
All she wants is her signature smize! Tyra Banks acquired her begin as a mannequin, however she is maybe extra well-known as a TV host this present day. The businesswoman took the world by storm when she kicked off America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin in Might 2003. She not solely served as a number and mentor (…)
What Didn’t Make It Into the Closing Lower After Shandi Sullivan’s Sexual Assault?
Jay Manuel recalled Shandi Sullivan being despatched to the physician after the encounter, which was additionally filmed. Shandi, in the meantime, was instructed by the cameramen that they felt horrible about having to report her name with Eric, who broke up together with her on the time.
Tyra Banks, in the meantime, addressed the model that aired.
“I’ll let you know this. After I went into postproduction and noticed the footage, we scaled again that scene in a big method … That was – for good or unhealthy — one of the vital memorable moments in Prime Mannequin,” government producer Ken Mok mentioned earlier than Tyra clarified in her personal confessional, “I’m not head of story. That’s Ken Mok. However I did turn out to be a grasp editor. It’s vital for individuals to know that we didn’t put the whole lot on TV.”
Based on Jay Manuel, the censorship was associated to the 2004 Tremendous Bowl halftime present when Justin Timberlake briefly uncovered Janet Jackson’s breast on dwell TV and FCC investigations fined CBS $550,000 for the wardrobe malfunction.
“When that occurred, rules clamped down on what you could possibly present,” Jay famous. “So then they needed to rush and re-edit that scene.”
Shandi Sullivan’s Reunion With Tyra Banks on Her Daytime Speak Present
Three years after season 2 aired, Shandi Sullivan appeared on Tyra Banks’ daytime speak present, sharing within the Netflix doc, “I instructed her I’d by no means seen (that episode in Milan). It simply introduced up too many issues after which I used to be like, ‘I can’t watch this present anymore.’ Then she simply places it on the display screen in entrance of me. I don’t take a look at it and she or he’s like, ‘I observed you weren’t trying.’ I actually instructed you behind the scenes that I’ve by no means seen it and I don’t need to see it.”
Shandi known as Tyra out for not respecting her needs. “That was terrible. That was depressing. That conduct doesn’t cease. Her conduct doesn’t change.” (Tyra didn’t tackle The Tyra Banks Present second between her and Shandi.)
The place Is Shandi Sullivan Now?
After leaving America’s Subsequent Prime MannequinShandi Sullivan briefly reconciled with Eric, saying, “We tried – he actually tried. He moved with me to New York after the present. However it will suck after I’d be strolling with Eric down the road and any person would acknowledged me and known as me a s*** to my face. Or (known as me) a dishonest whore with Eric standing proper subsequent to me. It was enjoyable. It made me hate myself.”
Work ended up returning to her pre-ANTM job at Walgreens. She now takes care of animals for a residing, sharing on the finish of the particular. “I need to dwell on a farm and have a sanctuary for animals. I’ve all the time liked animals,” she added.
Tyra Banks, for her half, expressed hope of doing one other season of America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin.
“After the present, I had so many alternative concepts for my life. I’m obsessive about pivoting. And I dwell in Australia now,” Banks mentioned within the doc. “I really feel like my work will not be executed. You don’t have any thought what we have now deliberate for cycle 25.”
Should you or somebody you realize has been sexually assaulted, contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).