Jay Manuel Content with Closing Chapter on Tyra Banks Friendship

Jay Manuel, the former creative director of America’s Next Top Model, has openly stated that he is perfectly content with not maintaining contact with the show’s host, Tyra Banks. This revelation comes amid the release of Netflix’s revealing docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.

In the documentary, which features interviews with Jay Manuel, Tyra Banks, and former judge Miss J Alexander, the trio delve into the show's decline and the numerous controversial challenges that arose throughout its 15-year history. While Banks was willing to address many contentious moments from the show, she avoided discussing her personal relationship with Manuel.

The Rise and Fall of a Fashion Show

Manuel joined America’s Next Top Model in its inaugural year, 2003, as a creative director alongside Banks and Alexander. Their dynamic was a significant draw for the audience. However, by the eighth cycle in 2007, Manuel started feeling uneasy about the show's direction and its more controversial aspects.

Reflecting on his tenure, Manuel stated, "I really struggled over some of the things that happened, and that was something that was slowly depleting me, chipping away at my soul." He initially considered leaving the show, emailing Banks to inform her of his decision. Her response, three days later, was curt: "I am disappointed." Manuel ultimately continued with the show but noticed a shift in his relationship with Banks.

A Fractured Friendship

Despite their on-screen camaraderie, Manuel asserts that off-camera interactions with Banks were non-existent. "On camera, [Tyra and I] learned to play and laugh… but it was just clear I was not allowed to speak to her outside of that," he recounted.

Manuel remained with the show until 2012, at the end of its 18th cycle, when he, along with Alexander and photographer Nigel Barker, was reportedly dismissed. "For my birthday, Tyra sent me flowers… and then I was fired five days later," Manuel recalled.

When asked in the Reality Check documentary if she would consider rekindling her friendship with Manuel, Banks responded noncommittally, "Nah. I should call Jay... I don’t wanna do this here." However, according to Manuel, no such call has been made. "My phone number’s the same. She knows it. I’m not expecting it, and I’m really OK with that."

Not an Isolated Incident

Manuel is not alone in experiencing a fallout with Banks. Miss J Alexander, another prominent figure from the show, shared his own story of feeling neglected after suffering a serious stroke in 2022. Despite initial outreach, Banks did not visit Alexander during his recovery. "She reached out to me when it first happened," Alexander mentioned, but noted their interaction was limited to a phone call.

Alexander expressed openness to meeting Banks in person, saying she mentioned a desire to visit him. "She called me up three weeks ago and said she wanted to come visit. I said, ‘Sure, OK.’ But I haven’t seen her yet," he said, humorously adding, "I think she’ll wait for a ticket to be paid for."

The documentary, which sheds light on the complex dynamics behind the scenes of America’s Next Top Model, is currently available for streaming on Netflix. It invites viewers to reconsider the reality TV landscape and the personal relationships often strained by the pressures of fame and production.

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