Tyra Banks and Jay Manuel’s ‘America’s Next Top Model’ fallout explained

Jay Manuel is speaking candidly about his fallout with Tyra Banks more than a decade after stepping away from America’s Next Top Model, revealing that a short email response from the supermodel marked the beginning of their long silence.

In the new documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, now streaming on Netflix, the former creative director reflected on the emotional toll of leaving the hit reality series and how his relationship with Banks changed permanently after his attempt to move on from the show.

Jay explained that in 2007, he decided to exit America’s Next Top Model, believing it was time to pursue new opportunities. He said he reached out to Tyra by email, thanking her for the experience and expressing his desire to grow beyond the show.

However, instead of the heartfelt response he expected, he received something much colder. “It was probably the longest three days ever. And she ultimately wrote back just three words. ‘I am disappointed,’ as revealed by People Magazine.

Jay described the moment as deeply painful, saying the brief message ended what could have been an important conversation between them. He suggested the exchange could have been a turning point, when both of them might have cleared the air and spoken honestly, but instead it created a distance that never healed.

“After that email exchange, all communication just stopped. It should’ve been the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart, but that did not happen,” the former America’s Next Top Model creative director added.

Although Jay returned for another season after the network requested it, he said the emotional strain only intensified. He revealed that Tyra kept her distance behind the scenes, speaking to him only when the cameras were rolling.

“Tyra chose not to speak with me at all while the cameras were off. When they were on, she’d speak to me,” Jay revealed. The experience left him feeling isolated and emotionally exhausted, especially since he felt trapped in a situation where the tension was constant but never openly addressed.

Jay admitted that returning for Cycle 9 was extremely difficult and described it as one of the worst periods of his life. Adding, “After [trying to leave], I did cycle 9, which was … torture for me. I was so broken by the end of that cycle because of the mental torture of what was going on.”

Tyra Banks, for her part, reportedly declined to directly address the rift publicly. Instead, she suggested she “should call” Jay and handle it privately rather than discussing it in the media. But Jay said that call never came.

“I never got that phone call.” He also made it clear that he does not expect the situation to change, noting that Banks already has his contact information if she ever wanted to reach out.

“I don’t think I’m getting a phone call. She’s got my number,” he added. Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks last spoke face-to-face in 2017 at a beauty industry event. Since then, there has reportedly been no communication between them, leaving their once-close working relationship unresolved.

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