The latest chapter in the ongoing Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model debate isn't coming from a former contestant—it's coming from a former judge.
Kelly Cutrone, who joined America's Next Top Model during its later seasons, is publicly defending Banks following the release of Netflix's Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model. In a recent appearance on the Chris vs. the People podcast, Cutrone criticized former creative director Jay Manuel for his participation in the documentary and his continued criticism of the show's creator.
According to Cutrone, Banks was unfairly portrayed throughout the series. "She got done dirty on that f*cking documentary," Cutrone said, adding that she had declined multiple invitations to participate in the project. "I already knew" what direction it was going to take, she explained.
The strongest part of Cutrone's criticism was directed at Manuel, who worked alongside Banks for 18 cycles of the franchise before departing in 2012, along with fellow panelists Nigel Barker and Miss J. Alexander.
Referring to Manuel's 2020 novel The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown—a book many viewers interpreted as being inspired by his experiences on the show—Cutrone questioned his decision to continue revisiting his history with Banks.
"That chick f*cking fed you, took care of you, raised you, and this is how you say thank you? F*ck off!" she said.
Cutrone also dismissed Manuel's continued public commentary on the franchise, arguing that his connection to America's Next Top Model remains the primary reason audiences recognize him today.
Her comments arrive months after Manuel emerged as one of the most outspoken voices in Netflix's docuseries. Throughout Reality Check, Manuel discussed his fractured relationship with Banks and alleged that producers increasingly prioritized storylines over photography as the series evolved.
He also claimed that judgments of outcomes were sometimes influenced by narrative considerations rather than strictly by performance. "Sometimes, not always, it was not her best shot," Manuel said in the documentary while discussing eliminations.
The Netflix series has sparked renewed scrutiny of America's Next Top Model and Banks herself. Several former contestants revisited controversial moments from the show's 24-season run, including Cycle 4 contestant Tiffany Richardson, whose 2005 confrontation with Banks remains one of reality television's most recognizable scenes.
After the documentary's release, Richardson reignited the conversation by accusing Banks of bullying her and claiming that their argument was edited to make it appear different from how it unfolded in real life. In the documentary, Banks acknowledged her handling of the situation, saying, "I went too far. You know, I lost it."
The project also featured emotional revelations from longtime runway coach Miss J. Alexander, who disclosed that he suffered a stroke in 2022 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Alexander reflected on his recovery and his continued relationships with former colleagues, including Manuel and Barker.
Meanwhile, Banks has found herself balancing criticism with a major franchise announcement. Earlier this year, she teased plans for America's Next Top Model to return for Cycle 25, which would mark the first new season since 2018.
