Former America's Next Top Model Judge Miss J Alexander Discloses Tyra Banks' Hospital Absence Following Severe Stroke
In a candid revelation, America's Next Top Model's iconic runway coach Miss J Alexander has disclosed that the show's creator and longtime host Tyra Banks did not visit him during his hospitalisation after a devastating stroke. The disclosure emerged during the third episode of the Netflix documentary series Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, which examines the show's complex legacy.
A Life-Altering Health Crisis
Alexander, now 67 years old, experienced a severe stroke in December 2022 that left him unable to walk or speak. The former judge spent five harrowing weeks in a medically induced coma, facing an uncertain recovery. Reflecting on this traumatic period, Alexander shared his profound fears about his future capabilities.
"I couldn't walk. And I couldn't talk. And I thought to myself, what was I going to do?" Alexander revealed during the documentary interview, highlighting the severity of his condition.
Notable Absence Amid Supportive Visits
While Alexander received hospital visits from former co-stars including creative director Jay Manuel and fashion photographer Nigel Barker, Tyra Banks notably did not appear. When questioned about whether Banks had visited him during his recovery, Alexander responded with an eye roll and a simple "No, not yet."
He did acknowledge that Banks had reached out via text message expressing her desire to visit, but this communication never translated into an actual hospital visit. This absence is particularly poignant given their long professional history, with Alexander having mentored Banks during her teenage years before their collaboration on the groundbreaking reality competition.
Emotional Reunion and Recovery Journey
The documentary captured an emotional reunion between Alexander and his former colleagues Barker and Manuel. Barker described seeing his friend in the hospital as "a terrible shock," while Manuel recalled Alexander's visible distress during his visit.
Remarkably, Barker marveled at Alexander's significant progress, noting: "When we first saw you in that hospital, you could hardly move, hardly talk. Now you're sitting up doing an interview, chatting, talking, rolling your eyes and making us laugh."
Professional Legacy and Personal Determination
Alexander, who served as the show's runway coach from its inception in 2003 and became a judge in its fifth cycle before departing in 2012, expressed his determination to recover fully. The man who famously taught models how to walk now faces his own mobility challenges with characteristic resilience.
"I'm the person who taught models how to walk. And now I can't walk ... Not yet," Alexander stated, before adding with determination: "I'm sure you're gonna see me again, I'm sure. It's not over for me yet."
Broader Documentary Revelations
The Netflix documentary also features Tyra Banks reflecting on her controversial on-air confrontation with contestant Tiffany Richardson, which produced one of reality television's most enduring memes. Banks admitted during her confessional interview that she "went too far" in her infamous tirade, acknowledging that her reaction stemmed from deeper societal pressures facing Black women.
"I lost it," Banks confessed. "It was probably bigger than her. It was family, friends, society, Black girls, all the challenges that we have. So many people saying that we're not good enough. I think all that was in that moment."
The documentary series continues to explore the complex dynamics and lasting impact of America's Next Top Model, which premiered more than two decades ago and revolutionized the reality television landscape while creating both opportunities and controversies for its participants.
