An unexpected critique leads to a rage-filled exit, a designer breaks down into an incoherent
emotional rant, and someone takes Tim Gunn’s patience to the absolute edge. We may have
come to "Project Runway" for the designs, but we’re really here for the awkward drama.
In a Season 18 challenge, contestants were assigned to design a dress for the host,
model Karlie Kloss, for her to wear to Paris for a Council of Fashion Designers of America event.
When giving feedback on Tyler Neasloney's ruffled dress, judge Brandon Maxwell did not hold back.
"I cannot see Karlie wearing it anywhere, honestly."
Neasloney quickly retorted with a sly reference to Kloss's husband,
Joshua Kushner, who is Jared Kushner's brother. Jared Kushner is Donald Trump's
son-in-law, and served as a senior advisor to the former president.
"Not even to dinner with the Kushners?"
Gasps and dumbfounded looks were seen across the room and backstage as soon
as the comment exited Neasloney's mouth, with one contestant bemoaning:
"Tyler, don't say that out loud!"
Without missing a beat, Neasloney snarkily added,
"That's your husband."
Kloss told him to "keep it to the challenge," but Neasloney continued the banter.
"I could see you wearing it at some point."
"You may not know, but I know. I know that this is not what I asked for."
Kloss harshly critiqued the fabric and design of the dress, and called it "cheap".
Neasloney later apologized to Kloss about the remark, saying:
"Karlie, I want you to know that I'm not a jerk. I'm professional."
"What I said earlier had no hidden agenda, no meaning, no, like, nothing like that."
His attempt of reconciliation was not effective, as he was afterwards eliminated from the show.
One contestant made an early exit from "Project Runway" on the second episode of Season 19. In
a challenge where designers were assigned to make streetwear, conversations about race and
cultural appropriation arose. Designer Meg Ferguson praised fellow contestant,
Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste, for using a black model for his look.
"You design because you grew up not seeing people like you on the runway."
Her attempt to be a supportive ally was not well received,
as she was seen as a white voice dominating the conversation without
giving the contestants of color a chance to share their perspectives. Jean-Baptiste then
reported that the "white savior" implications of her long-winded comments made him feel uneasy.
"I am getting uncomfortable a little bit. If I say 'Okay,
I'm done with it,' I think that should have been the end. But she's going, she's going, and going."
However, things took a real dramatic turn when Asian contestant Kenneth Barlis decided
he wanted to use Ferguson's Asian model for his design, 16 hours into the process.
Although she eventually agreed to switch, Ferguson responded harshly to the request,
resulting in a fight that caused Barlis to run off tears. With the vast majority of
contestants agreeing with Barlis, Ferguson followed suit by storming off the set.
"You know. Here we are."
It was later learned that she dropped out of the show for mental health reasons.
Season 3 saw a major uncomfortable dilemma when Brooklyn native Keith Michael was booted from
the show for breaking the rules. Michael was caught having "how-to fashion manuals"
in his bedroom, which is forbidden for contestants to have on the show.
"One of the absolute no-nos is no fashion how-to books."
He also disappeared off set for hours without the permission of the producers,
with no one knowing his whereabouts.
However, his major faux pas was reportedly using the internet to assist him with his designs,
something that is strictly banned in "Project Runway."
"Keith doesn't know that much about construction."
Once this was discovered, he was promptly removed from the show for cheating,
the first contestant to undergo such treatment in "Project Runway" history.
Despite this, Michael maintains his innocence, defending his name in an
interview with People. He claimed that the pattern books were the type that would not
assist him on the show. Michael also explained his forbidden internet usage,
saying that he only did so to complete trend reports for clients. As for going M.I.A,
he claimed it was to simply find a spare key in his boyfriend's apartment:
"I feel like there was a lack of integrity on behalf of the production. I thought it
was one-sided. I think this whole thing is farfetched and crazy."
"If I'm going to be voted out of this competition, I'm going to do it out of my own volition."
Many years after the Keith Michael incident, Season 16 contestant Claire Buitendorp
designed a pair of well-received pants that helped her to win a challenge. However,
this sparked outrage from other contestants, even prompting one of them to storm off the stage.
In the next episode, many of Buitendorp's competitors began to accuse her of unfairly
ripping off their designs. In the waiting room, they confronted her about keeping measuring tape
and measuring garments in her apartment, which is strictly against the rules in "Project Runway."
Surprisingly, Buitendorp confessed when mentor Tim Gunn directly asked her about the situation.
"I measured a tank top. And I drew out a shape, and I put—"
"With measurements?" "Four measurements on it."
Apparently, she measured existing clothes in her wardrobe and used that outline to create her
pair of challenging-winning pants, an action that is massively unauthorized on the show.
Buitendorp later claimed that her possession of measuring tape was merely an accident.
She said that she forgot the tape was in her apartment, and that it was only there for a
matter of hours before she quickly disposed of it. She told the Lansing State Journal:
"Once I got rid of it, I didn't think it would be a big deal."
In Season 8, Episode 5, the contestants faced a challenge where they were divided
into teams of six, and they had only one day to complete a whopping six pieces.
Contestant Gretchen Jones was a part of "Team Luxe," and personally assigned
herself as the leader while overtaking the process in a domineering manner.
"I feel like I'm kind of in every one, even if I'm not the one sewing."
However, Tim Gunn did not buy into Jones' egotistical statements, describing Team Luxe's
designs as "ho hum." When the group eventually lost the challenge, designer A.J. Thouvenot was
the one chosen to go home. While the team was sitting backstage and processing their defeat,
the always opinionated Tim Gunn had some strong words to say when he entered the vicinity.
"I don't know why you allowed Gretchen to manipulate, control,
and bully you, I don't understand it."
Gunn's callous statement clearly resonated with many of the designers.
"I don't think Tim just says things just to say. I think it kind of made all of us
have an 'aha' moment."
In an attempt to defend herself, Jones responded:
"I'm not a manipulative person. And it really,
really hurt my feelings to have Tim say that to me. Because I just wanted to help."
In a climactic challenge in the fourth episode of Season 12, designer Sandro
Masmanidi demanded feedback from the judges for his dress after being declared safe.
"I would love to know some notes and comments about my garment."
Masmanidi's wish quickly came true with Designer Zac Posen stating his honest opinion.
"It looks like somebody went home with a man in an evening gown and came back with a tie attached
to it and half her dress ripped. It looked like the walk of shame after an awards show."
After elimination, Masmanidi gets into a screaming match backstage with the other contestants,
who called his behavior "disrespectful." Masmanidi then promptly decides to storm
off the set, aggressively removing his microphone. He then reveals in an exit
interview why he decided to walk away from the show at that moment.
"I've been misunderstood from people, and I need my freedom."
Another highly emotional situation occurred during a relentless judging round after a
Season 2 challenge. Designer Andrae Gonzalo erupted into heaving sobs while being asked
to explain the inspiration and process behind his denim garment, which was not
well received by the judges. Although Gonzalo was no stranger to showing tears on the show,
this time was especially concerning, as his words were completely incomprehensible due to his deep
wails. An unsympathetic Nina Garcia poured salt in the wound by throwing her hands up in frustration.
"I don't need to hear all of this, I just want to see it."
Despite his uncomfortable meltdown, Gonzalo managed to not be eliminated that round,
eventually placing 6th for Season 2. Years later,
he reappeared for the second season of "Project Runway: All Stars," and finished in 10th place.
Reflecting on his journey on the reality TV series, Gonzalo told The Hollywood Reporter:
"I always believe that fashion or design is about solving problems with aesthetic needs.
This was a really exciting opportunity to do that and also connect with someone."
Although he is typically known for his calm demeanor on "Project Runway," the 14th season
showed another side of Tim Gunn. In the 10th episode, contestants were assigned a non-model
individual to design a garment for. While the designers were working on their pieces,
Gunn went around the room to critique the designs. When he reached contestant Swapnil
Shinde, he found that the wrap top was completely unfinished after several hours.
"I'm just struggling with the fact that the leather is not
in the certain places that I want it to stay."
This revelation ignited Gunn's exasperation, and he began to lecture Shinde.
"You've had more time to work than any other designer, and you're the
only designer who's had nothing to put on their model. How does that make you feel?"
Shinde tried to explain, but an irate Gunn quickly shut him down.
"What a bunch of bulls---! Bulls---! I mean I just want to ask, what is the f---ing point?!"
The entire room stared at the heated exchange in an
awkward silence. Fellow contestant Candice Cuoco summed up the situation perfectly:
"Tim is emotionally invested into all of us. And I feel like Tim thinks that
Swapnil is just not taking this serious at all. It's like a slap in the face."