Netflix’s tell-all docuseries about America’s Next Top Model allowed Tyra Banks and Jay Manuel to lastly handle their notorious falling out.
Created by Banks, America’s Next Top Model aired across multiple networks from 2003 to 2018, following aspiring fashions as they competed for the title of “America’s Subsequent High Mannequin” and an opportunity at a profitable modeling profession. Manuel, 53, joined America’s Subsequent High Mannequin in its first cycle in 2003 because the Inventive Director. He was featured on each cycle of the present for 9 years however finally didn’t return — together with Nigel Barker and Miss J. Alexander — after his contract wasn’t renewed for season 19.
Banks, 52, remained on the present as an government producer however she was briefly changed because the host. She returned for season 24, the present’s closing season earlier than it was canceled on VH1.
Points behind the scenes finally led to Banks and Manuel’s falling out, which he addressed in Netflix’s docuseries Actuality Test: Inside America’s Subsequent High Mannequin. Maintain scrolling for the most important revelations — together with the place they stand now:
What Initially Led to Tyra Banks and Jay Manuel’s Falling Out?
Within the three-part particular, Jay Manuel recalled realizing he wanted to step away from the present after season 8.
“There was a time when the artistic of the present began to shift. We had been purported to be exhibiting the behind the scenes of what the style world was — serving to change the trade,” he mentioned.. “However the present had developed in a manner I had by no means anticipated.”
Manuel “actually struggled over among the issues” that occurred — together with photoshoot ideas such because the “race swapping” thought. “That was one thing that was slowly depleting me and chipping away at my soul,” he famous. “It was time to inform Tyra I wished to go away the present.”
Whereas discussing his time on the present, Manuel noted that there was a “version” of him on the present that was “not likely” him.
“Tyra would all the time reinforce, ‘We have to hold it entertaining. We have to hold individuals watching.’ In fact there have been gob smack moments the place you watch, and also you’re like, ‘Oof,’” he mentioned. “However it was definitely not my place to inform them.”
How Did Jay Manuel Inform Tyra Banks He Was Leaving ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’?
“Tyra and I weren’t the standard work relationship whenever you work in such shut proximity and are touring collectively. I used to be afraid of claiming the unsuitable factor. And I undoubtedly didn’t need to make her upset,” Jay Manuel defined. “I tortured myself over the choice. It didn’t come evenly. I didn’t focus on it with anybody.”
Miss J Alexander, in the meantime, didn’t notice what Manuel was planning. “He [keeps] the whole lot to his chest,” he defined. “He’s very secretive.”
Manuel wished to inform Banks personally about his exit, sharing, “I knew that I needed to inform her first. So I despatched her the e-mail simply expressing the utter gratitude for this chance and to have the ability to assist her notice I used to be making an attempt to maneuver on in my very own life and profession.”
Banks “didn’t reply” for 3 days earlier than simply writing again, “‘I’m disillusioned.’” After that e mail, Manuel recalled how “all communication simply stopped” earlier than he was pressured into coming again for no less than another season.
Why Did Jay Manuel Return to ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’?
“There was a warning that strikes the concern of God in you. Folks discuss being blacklisted. These phrases weren’t used however I had suspected that that’s what it might flip into,” Jay Manuel mentioned within the three-part particular. “I didn’t know who to speak to as a result of the particular person I might all the time speak to was Tyra. I believed I might repair that.”
How Was Jay Manuel’s Relationship With Tyra Banks When He Returned to ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’?
Earlier than coming again to movie, Jay Manuel hadn’t “spoken” to Tyra Banks.
“I used to be extraordinarily nervous. I simply wished to [talk to her] actual fast [before we started filming]. That was the primary time I actually realized there was an actual drawback. She wouldn’t communicate with me,” he claimed. “On digicam, we realized to play and snicker however it was simply clear that I used to be not allowed to talk together with her outdoors of that.”
Jay Manuel in contrast the expertise on set to “psychological torture.”
“After that first day, I believed there’s completely no manner I’m gonna survive the cycle,” he continued. “I simply felt damaged.”
What Did Tyra Banks Reveal About Her Falling Out With Jay Manuel?
Producers requested Tyra Banks about her and Jay Manuel, to which she replied, “I choose … I ought to name Jay. I don’t need to do that right here. However he’s a particular man.”
How Lengthy Did Jay Manuel Stay on ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’?
“My job had modified. I not was producing artistic. The one factor I used to be accountable for producing per my contract is the ultimate runway. I used to be now simply on digicam expertise,” Jay Manuel shared. “I began actually being attentive to what was beginning to occur behind the scenes. That’s the place I began to be taught the artwork of storytelling.”
Manuel questioned how authentic the present was, including, “If there have been sure women that weren’t performing properly on a shoot, I might generally be pulled apart and say, ‘OK, with this particular person now we have this story. We want them to go ahead no less than a pair extra episodes.’ As a result of if the pictures are simply crappy, it’ll turn into exhausting to say, ‘This particular person deserves to remain within the competitors.’”
What Led to Jay Manuel’s Exit From ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’?
In 2012, America’s Subsequent High Mannequin skilled a palpable shift after the community head modified. Tyra Banks was pressured to hop on a name with the community, at which level she was instructed to fireside Miss J Alexander, Jay Manuel and Nigel Baker.
“I keep in mind them saying, ‘We’ve determined we’re gonna go in a totally completely different path,’” Manuel recalled. “It was like being slapped throughout the face and slapped proper again. [They compared it to] chopping the fats off the present that was bringing the rankings down.”
Manuel continued: “Once I wished to go away, I wasn’t afforded that. After which I work on the reveals from cycles 10 by way of 18. I made so many concessions. That’s the half that’s probably the most hurtful.”
The place Do Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks Stand After ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’?
Tyra Banks on ‘America’s Subsequent High Mannequin’ Eric Liebowitz / © The CW / Courtesy Everett Assortment
Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks’ points intensified when information about his firing was leaked to the general public.
“We had been going to place out one joint press launch, and so they mentioned we’d all get a quote on this press launch,” he recalled. “We see it on a regular basis in tv reveals, individuals saying, ‘So and so and so and so have determined to half methods.’ And Tyra, she’s like, ‘We’ll put out in our press launch how we’re going to proceed to work collectively.’ So we agreed to that.”
After being robbed of the power to “transfer ahead of their profession with grace,” Manuel, Miss J Alexander and Nigel Baker appeared in an interview addressing the firing the place they had been requested in the event that they felt “blindsided” by the choice.
“We needed to communicate very rigorously, contractually on the time,” Manuel shared. “There are solely sure issues you possibly can talk about across the manufacturing and what you legally might say.”
Banks additionally weighed in on how her working relationship with Manuel concluded.
“It was in all probability among the hardest information I’ve ever needed to ship, in my existence,” she mentioned. “I cried myself to sleep that night time. You already know? They had been there from the start. They had been among the closest individuals to me in my life and I needed to ship that information that the deal is up and that it’s over. You possibly can think about what that seems like.”
She continued: “However bosses have bosses, and the massive boss was very clear — there are not any sacred cows. And I heard that that means, ‘You too, Tyra. So decide up the cellphone and do what I’m telling you to do.’ And the factor is, I don’t imagine that they knew that it got here from above. Irrespective of how a lot I used to be explaining, ‘This was not our resolution.’ To at the present time, I feel they suppose that it was me.”
