There’s already drama behind the scenes of Tyra Banks’ new show “The FAB Life” — between the veteran “America’s Next Top Model” host and upstart, outspoken Sports Illustrated Swimsuit babe Chrissy Teigen, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
We’re told that Banks and fellow supermodel Teigen were “barely speaking” after the pilot for their upcoming show filmed last year.
“You never put two supermodels on the same show together,” said a TV insider of the rift. “Especially when one’s more than 10 years younger than the other.”
Of Banks, 41, and Teigen, 29 — who is wed to singer John Legend and also stars on Spike’s “Lip Sync Battle” — our source said: “They are so different. Tyra thinks about everything. She thinks about what to say, down to when to move her arm. Chrissy is from the new school, where she says whatever she wants.”
On the upcoming show, Banks “will lead a panel of diverse lifestyle experts,” including former Elle creative director and current Yahoo Style Editor-in-Chief Joe Zee, interior designer Lauren Makk and YouTube star Leah Ashley.
We’re told Banks, executive producer of the show, recruited Zee, but that ABC encouraged her to cast Teigen as a “social media expert.” “Don’t look for her and Chrissy to co-host many segments together,” sniped a source.
We’re also told that another “FAB Life” producer, Mark Victor, was axed after the pilot. But an insider insisted, “This is just the way things go in TV — normally one producer does the pilot, it’s sold, and then they hire staff.”
The syndicated show is set to debut on ABC stations in the fall and has not started filming. But we’re told the hosts had a “marketing shoot” in LA this week.
A different source denied there’s any beef and said it’s “a love fest” between Tyra and Chrissy. “If Tyra had a problem with Chrissy, she wouldn’t be on the show,” said the source. “They’re friends, there’s no drama.” An ABC rep had no comment.