- - Jay Manuel reveals current status of Tyra Banks friendship

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY February 17, 2026 at 7:40 AM

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Jay Manuel is opening up about his once rocky friendship with "America's Next Top Model" host Tyra Banks.

In an interview with People, Manuel, 53, revealed that he and Banks had a falling out between Seasons 8 and 9 of the popular reality competition show, after he told her he was ready to move on to new things. His revelation comes on the heels of the new documentary "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model," which looks back at the controversial modeling series and chronicles behind-the-scenes dysfunction.

Manuel, who said in the documentary that he had emailed Banks after Season 8 to announce his exit and thank her for everything, revealed that she didn't respond for several days, then told him she was "disappointed," per People.

Jay Manuel poses at the premiere of the holiday film "Red One" in New York City, U.S., Nov. 11, 2024.

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When he returned for Season 9 anyway at the network's request, Manuel told People that the famed supermodel iced him out while the cameras were off.

"Tyra chose not to speak with me at all while the cameras were off. When they were on, she'd speak to me," he told the oultet. "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."

Manuel, a makeup artist for Banks whom she asked to join her as the show's creative director for the launch of "ANTM," said in the documentary that it's on her to repair the friendship.

Tyra Banks attends the Franca Fund Gala 2025 at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 23, 2025.

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"I never got that phone call," he told People. "I don't think I'm getting a phone call. She's got my number.

"Tyra and I were close, and when we were in New York shooting, or even in L.A. shooting, she'd be at my house or I'd be at her house, and we would really download. But at the same time, and she knows this to be true, the things that are those really, really trusted important things that she has said to me, I will never repeat. I will forever honor my relationship with her in the past," he continued.

"I'm in a healed place," he said, adding he would be open to speaking with her in the future. "I wish her no ill will."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jay Manuel, Tyra Banks friendship changed after 'ANTM' falling out

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