The Real Reason Why Jay Manuel Left America’s Next Top Model

Jay Manuel was with America’s Next Top Model from the get-go, dating back to the 2003 series premiere on the now-defunct UPN network. Manuel was brought onboard as the show’s creative director and for the next 18 cycles (the show’s preferred nomenclature for what most TV series call “seasons”), he guided the aspiring models through the photo shoots that were at the heart of the show’s competition, until he parted ways with the series in 2012.

Eyebrows were raised when Manuel’s exit coincided with the departures of photographer Nigel Barker and runway coach J. Alexander (aka Miss J). Rumors arose about the suspicious timing, and ANTM executive producer Ken Mok didn’t exactly make things any less murky when he issued a statement that offered no explanation for why they left, but simply praised them for what they had brought to the show. As Page Six reported at the time, Mok insisted the three would “always be a part of the Top Model family,” promising the show would “continue to actively work with each of them on future projects.”

So, what really led Jay Manuel to exit the show after 18 cycles? Read on to discover the real reason why Jay Manuel left America’s Next Top Model.