Whew! Looks like there’s still some unfinished business between Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks. After that eyebrow-raising moment in the ‘America’s Next Top Model’ documentary, fans were left wondering where the former creative partners really stand. And now, Jay is clearing the air.
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No Call, No Closure, No Regrets
Following the release of ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next top Model,’ Jay Manuel sat down with Entertainment Tonight and addressed the current state of his relationship with Tyra Banks. In the documentary, Tyra was asked about what happened between them and suggested she should probably call Jay instead of discussing it on camera. But according to Jay, that call never came. He shared that his number hasn’t changed and he still hasn’t heard from her—adding that he doesn’t expect to.
Jay also made it clear that their dynamic was always complicated. Reflecting on their history, he said, “You don’t leave Tyra, Tyra leaves you,” hinting at a pattern in how relationships around her tend to end. And when asked whether he would be okay if they never spoke again, Jay didn’t hesitate—saying he’s completely at peace with that reality and doesn’t feel like he needs closure. When the interviewer asked if he missed their friendship, Jay kept it short and blunt: “I don’t.”
Social Media Picks Sides In Alleged ‘ANTM’ Fallout
Fans wasted no time running to Entertainment Tonight’s TikTok comment section to air it all out. Some shared their own strong opinions about Tyra. Meanwhile, others said you can clearly tell the tension between her and Jay still runs deep. And of course, a few folks admitted they’re still shook by that documentary. Because babyyyy, it definitely had people looking at ‘ANTM’ a little different.
One TikTok user @Charity Cates Said, “All this documentary did was make me dislike Tyra Banks even more“
This TikTok user @sass_1224 added, “He doesn’t miss the friendship because he realized she really wasn’t a friend in the end“
And, TikTok user @user4378153580430 commented, “‘I don’t’ no hesitation😂 ATE🤏🏽🤏🏽”
Meanwhile, TikTok user @Starr wrote, “They should’ve called this documentary, ‘Surviving Tyra’ atp“
While TikTok user @ChiZada26 shared, “If she never visited Ms Jay she definitely won’t pick up a phone.“
Finally, TikTok user @BlakeBrown said, “They’re both so PR trained that they come off gracious, but you can tell they hate each other irl“
@entertainmenttonight Jay Manuel reacts to watching Tyra Banks refuse to talk about their falling out in Netflix’s ‘ANTM’ docuseries, ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’. #ANTM #realitycheck #netflix #tyrabanks
♬ original sound – Entertainment Tonight – Entertainment Tonight
Jay Says Viewers Didn’t See The “Real” Tyra
And that’s not all Jay Manuel had to say. While reflecting on the Netflix release, he shared that the “real” Tyra Banks was noticeably absent from the documentary. According to Jay, viewers only saw “prepared television Tyra,” adding that he personally knows a very different side of her. He also hinted at the struggles she faced behind the scenes in the industry.
During an appearance on ‘Sherri’ alongside fellow former judges Nigel Barker and Miss J Alexander, Jay opened up about how things really shifted between him and Tyra. The trio’s sit-down marked their first joint interview since the doc dropped, and it didn’t shy away from the estrangement that followed their once-close friendships with the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur. Despite working alongside Tyra from the show’s 2003 debut through 2012, Jay says he was ultimately shut out—leaving fans to piece together how one of reality TV’s most iconic partnerships unraveled behind the scenes.
