Cast Change: Why Are Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn No Longer on ‘Project Runway’?
Project Runway is back for Season 17. The style of the show hasn’t changed but viewers won’t see model Heidi Klum saying, “Auf Wiedersehen,” to the losing designer at the end of every episode. And mentor Tim Gunn won’t be encouraging designers in the workroom to “make it work.” Find out why Klum and Gunn are no long on Project Runway, ahead.
New judges and mentor
There have been major cast changes among the judges and mentors. This time around model and Kode With Klossy founder, Karlie Kloss, will be the show’s host.
New judges on the show include fashion designer Brandon Maxwell and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue Elaine Welteroth. Nina Garcia, the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine, will be the only returning judge.
As for who will takeover for Tim Gunn? Project Runway winner and fashion designer Christian Siriano. He’s dressed Angelina Jolie, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez as well as many other celebrities.
Why is Heidi Klum no longer on ‘Project Runway’?
Klum played the role of host, judge, and executive producer on Project Runway, according to Good Housekeeping. So why would she leave an extremely successful show? For a new show. Klum announced her departure, saying that she’s starting a new TV show with Amazon Prime Video.
“After 16 incredible seasons, I am saying ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Project Runway, a show that I was honored to host and help create,” Klum said in a statement she released in Sept. 2018.
Why is Tim Gunn no longer on ‘Project Runway’?
Gunn is joining Klum on Amazon’s new show. He spoke about leaving the show with Entertainment Tonight.
“When [Project Runway] was moving to another network, it was an opportunity to take stock and to ask ourselves, ‘What do we want to do?'” Gunn said. “We weren’t looking for another opportunity as much as we were taking stock. Then Amazon quite literally popped up and said, ‘Would you two be interested in having a conversation?'”
Gunn went on to say this isn’t how he wanted to leave Project Runway but “time heals everything.”
He was open about the details of the new show: “What exactly will [the new show] be, I’ll be absolutely transparent with you, we don’t know yet. We want this to blow everybody away and say, ‘I can’t believe the show even exists. This is incredible.'”
What happened to Zac Posen?
Fashion designer Zac Posen was a judge on the show for six seasons. He was known for being tough on construction and tailoring but always looking dapper in suits with his signature brooch. Posen announced his exit from the show after Klum and Gunn left.
According to Deadline, Posen joined the cast of Project Runway to fill judge Michael Kors’ spot on the show in Season 11. Posen didn’t allude to any bad blood being the reason for his departure in a statement he released.
Posen might simply have had too much on his plate to continue being a judge. He’s the creative director for Brooks Brothers, a cookbook author, a designer himself who releases collections regularly, and an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
