Tyra Banks is facing a backlash from disgruntled former employees after announcing the end of her U.S. talk show - the ex-supermodel has been reportedly branded "difficult" and "a diva" by TV insiders.
The catwalk queen-turned-daytime talk show host revealed earlier this week (begs28Dec09) that the fifth cycle of her The Tyra Banks Show will be the last after five years and two Daytime Emmy Awards.
The former Sports Illustrated pin-up is planning to concentrate on developing shows and films under her Bankable Studios production company.
But the star, who also hosts the hugely popular America's Next Top Model series, isn't such a hit with her staff - with a show source telling the New York Daily News that working for Banks could be a tough task.
The insider tells the publication, "There had been a high turnover of employees for years... (it's) pretty difficult to work for Tyra. She and the higher-ups on the production staff could be extremely brutal. She really is a diva.
"When the show moved from L.A. to New York, several staffers weren't even directly told about the change. They heard through the grapevine it was going to move locations. Even so, a lot of those people gave up their lives on the West Coast so they could continue working for the show. Now they're out of luck."