Tyra Banks Makes Room For New Faces, Fires Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel And Miss J
Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model co-creator Ken Mok have fired runway coach “Miss” J. Alexander, creative director Jay Manuel and judge since season two Nigel Barker.
That’s every recognizable face on the show besides Tyra, gone.
The three will have vanished by the 19th season (18 is currently running) and there’s no word on whether current harpy judge Kelly Cutrone will stay.
Barker told E! News that he wasn’t taken aback:
“It wasn’t a shock. I’m friends with Tyra and the producers. There had been a discussion that ratings were down and that something like this would happen.”
On his blog he mentioned that the move will allow him to “take on new projects.” Miss J also spoke up, telling Us Weekly, “After 18 cycles, I found myself in the bottom three and Tyra pulled a surprise triple elimination. I didn’t even get to runway for my life!”
Nice that he’s able to keep a sense of humor about it, and there seem to be no hard feelings towards Tyra. Nigel called it a “network thing.” I only wonder what kind of desperate move Tyra will make next.
It seems to me that firing the three people that audiences are most familiar with would end up making ratings deteriorate, and any fans gained would not make up for that deficit.
UNLESS she hires either Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna or Madonna as a permanent judge. She probably is looking to satisfy the celebrity judge craving fed by all the competitive singing shows. Be on the watch for more news.
Daniel Sanford
eridax700
Sean Cocca
Hallie Madenski
loganvictorxavier
Jane Leung
She is less black then me and I’m the least black…
I burned my DVD collection of ANTM
Tyra not black no more, she no ENGLEWOOD, She lives in the hills whie bitch!!
I hate you bitch tyra I will never watch u again slut!