A contestant from America’s Next Top Model — identified as Shandi Sullivan from Cycle 2 — has opened up about one of the most controversial moments in the reality show’s history: footage of her drunk and having sex with a man during the Italy portion of the competition. New interviews surrounding the release of the Netflix docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model shed light on how cameras captured the incident and how production reacted afterward.
What Happened That Night
According to Sullivan’s own account — revisited more than 20 years after the original filming — the incident occurred when the cast was in Milan, Italy, during Season 2 of ANTM. She says the night started with drinking at a party where she became very intoxicated, eventually consuming what she remembers as two bottles of wine. Beyond that point, her memories become fragmented. She has said she was blacked out for much of the encounter, recalling only that sex occurred and that afterwards she passed out.
The incident was filmed by the production crew and later aired on television — not framed at the time as potential misconduct, but rather as part of the show’s dramatic narrative. Because Sullivan was in a relationship during filming, producers portrayed the moment as a “cheating” scene rather than interrogating the circumstances of consent.
How It Was Filmed
Cameras captured significant parts of the encounter — from portions of the party to the shower scene and the eventual aftermath. In interviews tied to the Netflix documentary, Sullivan highlighted that there was no apparent intervention from crew members, even as events unfolded.
A cameraman reportedly expressed shock after filming the incident, underscoring that those behind the cameras were aware of how extreme it was to record such a personal episode while the contestant was clearly intoxicated. Sullivan herself described this as unusual and unsettling, suggesting that the production prioritized dramatic footage over participant well‑being.
Production’s Reaction Afterward
Sullivan has said that after the cameras stopped rolling, some crew members expressed discomfort — one reportedly saying they “just knew that this isn’t right.” This suggests that even some in the production team felt uneasy about how the situation was handled. However, nothing was done at the time to protect her or prevent the filming of the incident.
Rather than intervening, producers left Sullivan in the narrative arc of the show, focusing on her turmoil and heartbreak — including scenes of her phone call to her then‑boyfriend, in which she appeared distraught. The finished edit contributed to one of the most memorable and talked‑about storylines in the show’s early years.
Tyra Banks, the show’s host and executive producer, later addressed the segment by emphasizing the reality‑show ethos of filming real events as they happened, insisting that the girls were aware they were being documented from the start. Still, Sullivan has made it clear she believes production should have intervened when it was obvious she was in a vulnerable state.
Broader Reflections From the Documentary
The Netflix docuseries has framed this moment as part of a larger pattern of how ANTM handled its contestants — often capturing highly personal or emotionally devastating experiences and presenting them for entertainment. While the series highlights the show’s impact on modeling culture, it also raises questions about contestants’ privacy, consent and safety in the reality TV sphere.
Sullivan’s revelations have renewed discussion around how reality programs balance storytelling with responsibility, especially when vulnerable individuals are involved. Many critics — including other former contestants — have pointed out that ANTM’s early seasons operated in ways that seem troubling by today’s standards, particularly in how footage is framed and broadcast.
Aftermath and Public Response
Since going public with her experience, Sullivan has also received public support — including donations after she reactivated a GoFundMe to help with personal expenses and life management in the wake of renewed attention to her story. In her own words, speaking out has been empowering, turning a painful chapter into a narrative she now controls on her own terms.
Fans and former viewers alike have expressed a mix of sympathy and frustration — some applauding her courage to speak up, and others questioning how such an incident was allowed to be filmed at all without intervention. It’s a conversation that extends well beyond one show to broader debates about reality television ethics and participant care.