Tyra Banks fires Nigel Barker,
J. Alexander and Jay Manuel in America's Next Top Model shake-up
Modelling is a cut-throat business, just ask Nigel Barker, J. Alexander and Jay Manuel.
The America's Next Top Model stars have been axed by host and executive producer Tyra Banks.
Photographer Barker, 39, runway coach Alexander, 53, and creative director Manuel, 39, have been fixtures on the show however their contracts have not been renewed.
Out: Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and J. Alexander have been axed from America's Next Top Model
Boss: Tyra Banks confirmed the departure on her Facebook page today
Manuel, who oversaw the show's photo shoots, and Alexander had been with the show since it's first cycle in 2003 with Barker joining a year later.
The long-running series has suffered disappointing ratings during its most recent cycle, which began airing in February.
Just 1.3 million people for the premiere episode, 45 per cent down from the audience for the previous cycle's opener.
Banks confirmed the news on her official Facebook page after it was first reported in the New York Post.
'To my Nigel Barker, Miss J, and Mr Jay: Thank you for all of our years together on America's Next Top Model,' Banks wrote.
'Working with you is always an absolute pleasure. Excited for what the future holds for us.'
On his blog this morning, Barker wrote: 'I will miss the cast, the crew and ANTM will always have a special place in my heart, having made life-long friendships with countless fond memories.'
Makeover: Tyra Banks (left) has axed longtime co-stars Nigel Barker (centre) and Jay Manuel (right) from the America's Next Top Model line-up
In an interview with E! News, the British photographer said he was prepared for the news.
'It wasn't a shock. I'm friends with Tyra [Banks] and the producers,' he said.
'There had been a discussion that ratings were down and that something like this would happen.'
Barker added that he had narrowly escaped the axed before.
'There had been previous years where discussions about me being eliminated from the show had happened and I had actually survived the chopping block before,' he said.
Catwalk king: Runway coach J. Alexander helped contestants improved their strut
He insists he harbours no hard feelings.
'We had an incredible run,' he said. 'This isn't a Tyra thing. This is a network thing. My contract was so exclusive that it was holding me back from other projects.'
He now wants to create his own show that 'focuses on some of my passions like photography.'
Manuel and Alexander have yet to comment.
No replacements have been announced.
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