Tyra Banks Fires Her Diva-Like Manager

Posted : August 23, 2007
Filed under : Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks has sacked her manager for allegedly being a bigger diva than she is. The talk show host has parted ways from Benny Medina of Handprint Entertainment and insiders say her decision came after he "forgot who the star was".

A source told the New York Daily News newspaper: "His perk list is bigger than hers. Everything from private jets and votive candles that the staff has to light before he gets to the set. He forgot who the star was." Medina had a bitter legal battle with Jennifer Lopez when she fired him as her manager, but he insists his split from Tyra is amicable.

In a joint statement, Medina said: "Tyra Banks is a highly regarded artist, entrepreneur and producer, and I respect her vision for developing her own bankable brand. Tyra and Handprint Entertainment look forward to the opportunity to work together on existing or new ventures. This is a great thing for everyone involved."

Some have speculated Tyra's latest decision was heavily influenced by her new boyfriend, investment banker John Utendahl, for whom she recently uprooted her talk show to New York. But a source close to the former model denied her lover was involved in the split, saying: "John had nothing to do with this."