Did Jay Manuel really think he could write a fictionalized tell-all about Tyra Banks without facing some serious backlash from the ANTM crew? Well, honey, think again!
Kelly Cutrone, the legendary PR maven and ruthless judge we all know and love from America’s Next Top Model, just went OFF on Jay Manuel during an appearance on the “Chris vs. the People” podcast, and darling, we are living for this tea! The 60-year-old fashion industry icon didn’t hold back when discussing Manuel’s controversial decision to pen a fictionalized book about his experiences on the hit reality show. “I just think that whole thing was disgusting,” Cutrone declared with the kind of confidence only someone who’s fired contestants on national television could muster.
Now, we’re not saying Jay Manuel is the villain in this story, but Kelly Cutrone basically just did. The shade was real, the tone was dripping with disdain, and honestly? We’re here for every single second of it. This isn’t just some random disagreement between former colleagues—this is a full-blown call-out from someone who was literally IN the trenches with both of these TV personalities. If Kelly thinks something is disgusting, you better believe there’s some serious receipts behind that statement.
The ANTM family has always been messy, but this particular drama is hitting different. Tyra Banks built an empire on that show, and to have one of her former judges and collaborators airing grievances through a fictionalized book? That’s not just shade, honey—that’s throwing the entire lamp across the room. Kelly’s public condemnation is basically the fashion world’s version of a cease-and-desist, and we’re obsessed with the fact that she’s not letting this slide quietly.
What makes this even juicier is the timing. Here we are, years later, and Kelly STILL feels strongly enough about this to go on a podcast and read Jay for filth. That’s not a woman who’s moved on—that’s a woman who’s waiting for the right platform to deliver her perfectly crafted clap-back. And deliver she did!
The real question everyone’s asking is: what exactly did this fictionalized book contain that was SO offensive? Because clearly, it was enough to make Kelly Cutrone—a woman who’s built her entire career on being unfiltered and brutal—call it disgusting. In the ANTM universe, that’s practically a declaration of war.
What do you think? A) Kelly Cutrone is totally justified in calling out Jay Manuel’s book B) This is old drama that should’ve stayed buried