Kimora Lee Says Tyra Banks Once Held Her at Her Apartment to Keep Her From Russell Simmons

For years, the story of Tyra Banks and Kimora Lee Simmons was one of fashion’s tightest friendships. Now we’re learning there was a moment that changed how Kimora sees the entire thing. In a new Lifetime documentary, she says Tyra once kept her at her apartment for an entire weekend so she couldn’t get to her voicemail. Those messages were from Russell Simmons, and Tyra wanted to make sure Kimora didn’t respond.

At the time, Kimora saw it differently. She thought Tyra was jealous, saying she“felt a little bit like she was hating.”But with distance and hindsight, she now believes Tyra was trying to protect her. Kimora met Simmons at sixteen, and he was eighteen years older, sending flowers to her runway shows. They married in 1998, had two daughters, Ming and Aoki, separated in 2006, and divorced in 2009. Kimora has described the relationship as tumultuous and says she experienced verbal and emotional abuse. Tyra was even a bridesmaid at the wedding.

The part that stays with you? Kimora says she and Tyra haven’t spoken in years. So the friend who tried to keep her away from him watched her marry him anyway. Their story raises a question a lot of us know too well: when our friends warn us about someone, how do we know they’re protecting us and not just hating? Share your story with us in the comments.