Tyra Banks stepped out as the top witness Wednesday, testifying against accused stalker Brady Green.
“I fear my safety. I feel extremely vulnerable. I fear the safety of my staff. My family. The people in my vicinity,” said Banks, who appeared calm and spoke softly on the stand in downtown Manhattan, as she shared her recollection of when she heard about Green, 38, who is charged with stalking, harassment and criminal trespass.
“[My staff doesn't] tell me about fans,” said Banks. “They said this person threatened one of my staffers. At that moment that was it. The first thing is there’s this person who’s more than a fan.”
Explaining the intensity of the threat, Banks said, “I was at work one day about to leave and a bunch of people on my staff said, ‘No! You can’t go.’ [Green] got past security and you need to be here. Never in my career had staff reacted like this. I had to stay in my dressing room for a while.”
The incident has scared Banks and had an impact on her life, she testified. “My life has changed significantly, even the people who know me,” she said. “I don’t live that sheltered life. I like to walk around my neighborhood. I run outside. I like to go to the movies by myself, eat meals by myself. My company hired security. When I’m at the movies, in a restaurant, they are there with me.”
Other ways her life has changed? “I can’t jog outside anymore. I would go with a trainer or alone but with security present,” she said, adding, “The show made significant changes. They hired security. Plain clothes too. Budget is everything but they understood that was necessary. The extra [expenditures] were made.”
Banks left the courthouse escorted by lawyers and did not comment. Greens lawyers declined to comment.
Green faces a max of 90 days in jail if convicted.
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