Paulina vs. Tyra – “Top Model” Drama

It was recently revealed that Paulina Porizkova was fired from her job as a judge on America’s Next Top Model and I was really surprised.  I actually liked Paulina and I am sorry to see her go.  I know that she and Tyra sometimes didn’t agree but I really didn’t expect this.  Paulina, clearly, is not happy about being let go and has actually starting doing something I really don’t admire – trash-talking. 

When speaking to Access Hollywood she said:  “I must admit I was having a little bit of an issue with Tyra being late for every judging.  It’s six hours later and I feel like I am being told my time is not as valuable as hers. They pointed out that I should shut up and be grateful for the job and that Tyra is really busy.  I think that my little hissy fits about ‘Well, we are all here on time. Why can’t she (Tyra)?’ didn’t go over all that well. 

Could Tyra have been jealous of Paulina?  “I don’t think that in Tyra’s universe that’s even a consideration. I don’t think she cares,” she said. “I’m not even sure she was aware that I existed way out there in Siberia, much like I am not sure she knew Twiggy existed.  I wouldn’t know [what kind of person Tyra is] because all I know of her is literally when we are on set talking to each other in front of the cameras.  That is the only time she would speak to me.”

MEOW and WOW!  That’s really disappointing on so many levels!  I had really thought that Tyra and Paulina would have been friends after working in the  same industry and then on the same show all this time. 

In response to all of the chatter, Tyra claims that Paulina was fired as a result of the sagging economy and released the following statement:  "The current state of the economy has forced shows to make major budget cuts industry wide.  America’s Next Top Model is not immune to these financially challenging times. We’ve had to make significant cuts in every area of the production and, unfortunately, Paulina was a casualty of these cuts."

Someone couldn’t have told Paulina this herself?  I think that if she had been fired in a dignified way, we wouldn’t be hearing all this cattiness and I certainly feel that Tyra, herself, should have been the one to call up Paulina and break the news.  Not cool.

Paulina image: Zuma Press, Tyra image: Bauer-Griffin