Former 'ANTM' Judge Jay Manuel Says Watchers Need To 'Honor Everyone's Truth' Amid Backlash

Former "America's Next Top Model" (ANTM) judge Jay Manuel is addressing fans head-on and calling out the release of the Netflix docuseries, "Reality Check."

According to several reports from The Blast, "Reality Check" takes viewers behind the scenes of what really happened on the set of one of the 2000s most iconic reality TV shows, "America's Next Top Model."

The docuseries explores some of the 'ANTM's' biggest controversies and questions the production's place in pop culture history.

Manuel shared an image of himself and Banks posing together on the set of "ANTM" before cycle one. Manuel captioned the photo: "A reminder of how things were with Tyra just weeks before we began filming Cycle One of America's Next Top Model."

Manuel provided some backstory for the photo, explaining that he wanted to give viewers a glimpse into his mindset at the time. He added, "This image of Tyra and me captures a moment when I was full of enthusiasm, optimism, and completely ready to take on this new challenge."

Continuing in the post, Manuel said that nobody involved in the behind-the-scenes production of "America's Next Top Model" could have "predicted what this project would become or the global impact it would have."

In the docuseries, Manuel speaks openly with producers about his strained relationship with Banks, according to The Blast.

In a recent Instagram post, Manuel reflected on how he once "admired Tyra for being a superstar model and breaking barriers she shattered in the fashion industry."

As he continued, Manuel said that while the "Reality Check" docuseries will offer watchers an "in-depth look at many perspectives," it's important to acknowledge that everyone had a different experience on the show.

"Everyone involved with ANTM had their own journey with this show—and their own truth," he added. "We need to honor everyone's truth."

Manuel opened up about his fractured bond with Banks during episode 3 of "Reality Check," tracing the shift back to an email he sent her after cycle 8 in 2007, in which he expressed his desire to move on.

"It was probably the longest three days ever," he said. "And [Tyra] ultimately wrote back just three words. 'I am disappointed.'"

Manuel added, "After that email exchange, all communication just stopped. It should’ve been the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart, but that did not happen."

Manuel claimed that following that email exchange, his relationship with Banks changed forever.

"Tyra chose not to speak with me at all while the cameras were off. When they were on, she'd speak to me," he said. "After [trying to leave], I did cycle 9, which was ... torture for me. I was so broken by the end of that cycle because of the mental torture of what was going on."

Manuel confessed that, while he desperately wanted to leave the series, he stayed out of pure fear of being blacklisted.

"There was a warning that strikes the fear of God in you," he said. "You know, people talk about being blacklisted. Those words were not used, but I had suspected that that's what it would turn into."

The "Reality Check" docuseries comes years after social media users began criticizing Banks and the producers of "America's Next Top Model" for placing some of the show's contestants in extremely harmful and compromising situations.

After binge-watching the Netflix series, social media users are doubling down on their feelings toward the former host.

"Girl, at this point, Tyra Banks is EXACTLY who they say she is!" someone wrote on X. "You will never get me to believe otherwise! Everyone took accountability except her. She got more excuses than a [person] paying child support!"

"Tyra banks youre going to look gorgeous in h-ll I am so sorry but you have to go there," another user posted.

"Ok so that Netflix show was really just 3 straight hours of Tyra Banks taking zero accountability for creating a show where she profited off the abuse and exploitation of young women for years. Got it. #RealityCheck," a third wrote.