Cynthia McFadden tried to pierce Tyra Banks’ beatific supermodel demeanor when she pointedly asked her about the firings of both Janice Dickinson and Paulina Porizkova from America’s Next Top Model last night. The Nightline reporter was swiftly blocked by Banks’ faithful publicist despite her protests.

“Both Paulina Porizkova and Janice Dickinson, when they left the show, were not very nice about you,” McFadden said, mispronouncing Porkizkova. If the basic stumble over her fellow former supermodel’s last name was a source of glee for Tyra, she did not let on as she smiled with her eyes and seethed with her soul.

“Let’s not go there,” her publicist interjected.

“I am going to go there. I am going to ask that question,” said McFadden before the interview faded to an audition scene. McFadden had lost this battle, but not for want of trying, as ABC’s editing was sure to show.

[From The Huffington Post]

That’s the first time we’ve seen Tyra stab with her eyes as opposed to smiling. Porizkova was famously dumped by Banks on her 44th birthday with our current economic status given as the reason. Although, Paulina had other ideas about why she was shown the catwalk out of there.

“The reason I was told I was fired was because, it seemed that ‘America’s Next Top Model’ has gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat and the fat was me,” Paulina recounted. “So I figured it was either that or my gigantic huge ego. Which I wasn’t aware of before I was told by the producers that I have an ego problem.”

[From The Huffington Post]

Paulina has also gone on record as to her dislike of what she perceived as Banks’ diva behavior. Hey, she’s got a talk show and 14 models to give insane conflicting advice to every ANTM cycle, you’d be running late, too!

“I must admit I was having a little bit of an issue with Tyra being late for every judging,” she told Billy. “It’s six hours later and I feel like I am being told my time is not as valuable as hers. They pointed out that I should shut up and be grateful for the job and that Tyra is really busy.”

“I think that my little hissy fits about ‘Well, we are all here on time. Why can’t she (Tyra)?’ didn’t go over all that well,” added Paulina, who replaced the previous judge, supermodel Twiggy.

[From Yahoo!]

Dickinson was fired earlier on in the show’s run, after cycle four. She is also known for carrying a grudge against the recently unwigged Banks. Then again, Dickinson is crazy and probably also bears a grudge against the mailman and parking meters.

Top Model will reportedly use a rotating cycle of guest judges this cycle, including Lauren Conrad and Kim Kardashian. This cycle’s premiere last nightfeatured supermodel Chanel Iman as the judge.

Here’s Tyra at the Daytime Emmys on August 30th. Images thanks to WENN.com .