The Real Reason Why Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker Left ‘America’s Next Top Model’

Jay and Nigel seemingly have had “no courting” with former ‘ANTM’ boss Tyra Banks since leaving the show.

Feb. Thirteen 2024, Published 5:33 p.m. ET

While everybody knows America’s Next Top Model was supermodel-turned-TV rich person Tyra Banks’ brainchild, the reality TV festival had many memorable judges and instructors helping the type hopefuls alongside the way. Few were extra memorable than former judge Nigel Barker and former ingenious director Jay Manuel.

During the heyday of ANTM, which ended for excellent in April 2018. Nigel and “Mr. Jay” were known for their candid takes at the contestants, which they pulled from their years of previous paintings within the model business. However, after 18 cycles (seasons, iykyk) of being on the display, Nigel and Jay exited the sequence and seemingly have no relationship with Tyra.

So, what resulted in Jay and Nigel’s exits? Here’s the scoop.

Why did Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker leave ‘America’s Next Top Model?’

Jay and Nigel joined America’s Next Top Model in cycle 1. Nigel, a longtime style photographer, and Jay, who labored as a stylist and make-up artist for magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and celebrities similar to Tyra and Naomi Campbell, briefly helped legitimize the contest as being about serving to the fashions launch careers in style.

In cycle 1, they were additionally joined by way of runway advisor J. Alexander, who was once affectionately referred to as “Miss J.”

Along with extravagant challenges and dramatic elimination rounds, enthusiasts had turn into conversant in seeing Nigel, Mr. Jay, and Miss Jay season after season. That was till 2012 once they weren't asked to return to the show.

In 2012, ANTM reportedly saw a decline in viewership, forcing Tyra and the display’s other executive manufacturer, Ken Mok, to make “primary changes deliberate for [season] 19,” in step with BET News. Ken and Tyra additionally confirmed the firings had not anything to do with the Jays or Nigel in my opinion, with them each expressing a want to, as Ken put it, “actively paintings with each and every of them on future initiatives.”

“To my Nigel Barker, Miss J, and Mr Jay: Thank you for all of our years together on America's Next Top Model,” Tyra wrote on her Facebook page in 2012. “Working with you is at all times an absolute pleasure. Excited for what the long run holds for us."

Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker’s drama with Tyra Banks explained.

Jay and Nigel’s exits didn’t stop ANTM from going on for another few seasons before it eventually went off the air. Unfortunately, their exits seemingly ruined their friendship with Tyra.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 quarantine, Tyra and America’s Next Top Model sparked controversy due to some of the challenges and comments made on the show, some of which came from Tyra herself. Many of the moments, including a photo shoot where contestants swapped identities and two models wore blackface and whiteface, respectfully, were deemed inappropriate in today’s climate.

Amid the controversy, Jay was promoting his novel, The Wig, The B---ch, and The Meltdown, which was heavily inspired by ANTM, including Jay pulling inspiration from Tyra’s classic “we were rooting for you speech” to model Tiffany Richardson. While promoting the book, Jay told Variety that he and Tyra had “no relationship” and had only seen each other once at BeautyCon in 2017 since he left ANTM.

“Over the past few years, we’ve emailed,” Jay said of Tyra in an interview with Variety. “To be very honest, we really have no relationship to speak of, which is really sad. Our time together on ANTM was amazingly productive and, at times, magical. We got to experience being part of a global phenomenon.”

Jay later shared with correspondent Justin Sylvester that he felt “scared to speak up” about some of Tyra’s comments, including the time she scolded a contestant, Kim Stolz, for being proud of her lesbian identity. Jay also told Justin he and Tyra’s relationship never recovered after he left the show in cycle 18, even though he chose to stay on for another season to help them find his replacement.

Jay added that while Tyra later apologized for her cold response to his exit, their relationship never recovered. Nigel seemingly had a similar experience, even though he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2012 that he didn’t think Tyra was responsible for firing him.

In May 2023, while celebrating Top Model’s 20th anniversary, Nigel shared a number of pictures of him, Tyra, the Jays, and different previous judges, although lovers noticed he didn’t tag Tyra in his submit. The subtle oversight brought about many to assume he didn’t have much of a dating with Tyra.

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