The CWWhen Paulina Porizkova described herself as the fat that was clogging America's Next Top Model, we assumed she didn't mean it literally.
Sure enough, executive producers Tyra Banks and Ken Mok released a statement Monday clarifying why the former cover girl will not be returning for ANTM's 13th cycle: pure, unadulterated economics.
"The current state of the economy has forced shows to make major budget cuts industry wide," the duo said. "America's Next Top Model is not immune to these financially challenging times. We've had to make significant cuts in every area of the production and, unfortunately, Paulina was a casualty of these cuts."
Meanwhile, Porizkova was the one who revealed that she had been given the nondesigner boot, during an appearance on CBS' Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson the night before last week's finale.
"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," the 44-year-old stunner said.
And she was right, essentially, though you still have to wonder what really went on behind closed doors when this decision was made.
"Tyra, who pursued Paulina to join the show as a judge multiple times, was incredibly saddened by the decision the show was forced to make. We really enjoyed working with Paulina, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors."
There's no word on whether Porizkova's spot at the judges' table will be filled by an intern whom the producers don't have to pay, or if they'll rotate in a guest judge each week, or what.