TYRA BANKS: Bye Bye Benny!

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Tyra Banks and Benny Medina have parted ways. Did Tyra Banks really tell Benny Medina "You're Fired"?

Maybe. The two have parted ways.

We all know who Tyra is, but do you know who Medina is?

Well, he's the sharply dressed former record company executive who helped shepherd major career moves for Will Smith, Diddy, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Brandy, Star Jones Reynolds, Kanye West and Mariah Carey.

He and Banks seemed like a good fit with her wildly popular foray into television with hit shows such as 'America's Next Top Model' and 'The Tyra Banks Show.'

And the East Los Angeles ghetto native (who is also referred to as Benny McDiva) didn't only act as Banks' manager, he also served as producer of the two franchises.

Not sure how that's going to shake out from here on out.

It seems as though Banks' new move to The Big Apple may have put her in a New York State of Mind.

And Medina isn't a part of her thinking anymore.

New York Daily News gossip columnists George Rush & Joanna Malloy said the two tried to stamp a happy face on their breakup via a joint statement, where Medina said, "Tyra Banks is a highly regarded artist, entrepreneur and producer, and I respect her vision for developing her own bankable brand."

tyra banks The statement added, "Tyra and Handprint Entertainment look forward to the opportunity to work together on existing or new ventures. This is a great thing for everyone involved."

Several sources contended that Banks cut Medina loose because of his own high maintenance.
"His perk list is bigger than hers," the source told the daily tabloid. "Everything from private jets and votive candles that the staff has to light before he gets to the set. He forgot who the star was."

Whoa.

The almost 50-year-old Medina, who is reporedly consulting Usher , had a fierce legal breakup with Lopez stemming from her allegations that he acted improperly as her agent. The two severed ties in 2003.

An official rep for TelePictures -- who produces 'The Tyra Banks Show' -- confirmed that Medina will continue as an executive consultant on the talk show.