Jay Manuel has opened up about his split from Tyra Banks, more than a decade after his emotional exit from America’s Next Top Model.
In the Reality Check: A Look Inside America’s Next Top Model, streaming on Netflix, Jay opened up about his decision to leave the show in 2007.
Jay revealed that after he emailed Tyra to thank her and express his desire to know more about it, he received a short response that changed everything.
He said: “It was probably the longest three days ever. And in the end she only wrote three words back. ‘I’m disappointed,'” as revealed by People magazine.
“After that email exchange, all communication just stopped. It should have been a chance to have a heart-to-heart, but it didn’t,” the former America’s Next Top Model creative director added.
Although Jay returned for another season at the network’s request, he revealed that the emotional distance remained. “Tyra chose not to talk to me at all while the cameras were off. When they were on, she would talk to me,” Jay revealed.
Adding: “Na [trying to leave]I did cycle 9 which was torture for me. I was so broken at the end of that cycle because of the mental torture of what was going on.”
It’s pertinent to mention that Tyra refused to discuss the rift, saying she would “have to call him” and deal with it personally.
However, Jay Manuel said, “I never got that phone call.”
‘I don’t think I’ll get a call. She has my number,” he added.
Tyra Banks and Jay Manuel last spoke in person in 2017 at a beauty industry event. There has been no contact between them since then.
