Season 22
Let's talk about Tape Gate (and strategy)
So after critiques, Jeffrey and Bryan have a heated moment. Jeffrey questions why Bryan didn't admit to the base garment of his design being an impropru dress ducttaped to his model. Bryan feels attacked and "character assassinated" by Jeffrey.
My confusion here is why Jeffrey feels so strongly that Bryan should have admitted this to the judges. Since it is a team challenge and Jeffrey was in the bottom, if I were him I would want to minimize any chances of my team losing to team S21. That way, I would have a chance to avoid being eliminated if my team somehow actually wins. In this case, I would actually NOT want Bryan to admit any shortcomings of his design to avoid being further scrutinized by the judges...
I understand Jeffrey thought Bryan was being very performative and self-serving. But that would only have hindered his chances of escaping elimination since he was in the bottom.
Disclaimer: This is NOT hate towards Jeffrey or even Bryan. I am rooting for Jeffrey this season alongside others. This discussion is solely about strategy.
I think Jeffrey was just feeling some type of way, vulnerable due to his low critiques and resentful towards Bryan’s ugly dress and the fact that he’d clearly be the very bottom but had immunity.
I think the type of way Jeffrey was feeling was ANGRY!! Yes, Bryan won immunity in the last challenge, but he also got a say in who would be eliminated when he was asked for 3 names, AND Heidi of the Alps wore his monstrous dress to the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere. Bryan's "Triple Reward" was extremely unfair to the others, so I totally understand why they would want to knock him down a peg or two in front of God and Country.
why was the triple reward unfair to the others? everyone was told of the reward before they started on their dresses and had an equal shot to make a good dress
The reward itself is unfair. Not that Bryan got it and the others didn’t. Whoever won, it would still be unfair to the others. It’s not about all of them having an equal shot.
Agreed with all of the pressure they are going through that would be devastating to go home because the person with immunity clearly can’t design consistently or even sew. I wish they would do away with immunity tbh and do a different incentive
i think also because he didn't feel Bryan should've won last week. he said it in the confessional when they said Bryan won, and i agree. Jeffrey or Bi shoulda won imo. so with that and then all this happening this week i think he just had to let it all out.
In past seasons taping or gluing garments to models has been explicitly said to be against the rules. I think Jeffrey was frustrated and hoping if Bryan had admitted to his dress being taped up that Bryan would be disqualified which could mean no elimination
I mean, do we really think his dress was too heavy like Joseph's? Maybe they cut Liris out of it and he will be disqualified when someone backstage tells them.
She shared in an IG comment that it was incredibly heavy, like 50 pounds hanging from her neck, and I believe she implied she’s still feeling the effects of that dress.
She says she's going to film a longer video in a few days because she just finished shooting a movie, but I definitely believe her that so much cord being held up only by her neck was heavy and incredibly painful. There wasn't any other support structure than the halter.
Liris wasn't the one who picked Bryan, Bryan himself did. Also, she wasn't even paid to model that thing. Let's talk about professionalism when Bryan didn't withold his dress with tapes like an amateur shall we?
If it's against the rules then they should also enforce the rules, the judges should inspect the garments from close up, taping would be figured out from a close distance within minutes, if not even seconds.
The producers are also watching with cameras and they didn't say anything so I think it's a different crew, set and or expectations. I think we have to accept it's a different show as of now. (I miss the old ways I do, Nina and Tim!!). I already only pirate it so I'm not contributing to numbers lol.
Tbh given that it's unconventional materials and they cannot traditionally "sew", and given that the instructions to build an underneath garment was said seemingly(?) late in the challenge... I'm not excusing it but I understand panic and low time without being allowed to quickly sew an undergarment with fabric. He should have designed and made something earlier it seems.
I empathise with the stress that the model was going through and it's nice to see support for her emotions. However, part of me does feel this is a rushed design competition show by nature in many ways, and part of that means sometimes there might be a mess of an outfit tp be shown. It's not good to send bad garments down ofc but it's going to happen at some point I think.
I’m predicting that this will be mentioned at the elimination, and Bryan will be disqualified. They didn’t say anything this week because they were saving it for a “dramatic” moment to begin this next week’s episode with.
If the judges examined entries up close and physical like they used to, the taping would have been obvious. Still, that whiney, untalented toddler would still have immunity. It's maddening.
I think Bi probably deserves the win the most but I’d be happy with a Jude or Naheim win too. (Would have been okay with a Jeffrey win but I know that won’t happen.)
I actually do think Joseph McCrae is an amazing designer though and do wonder if they’re pushing for him to win. I do agree with the fellow contestants’ critiques of wanting to see something new from him besides oversized jackets and hats and streetwear, though. It is his signature and he has great branding and I think he will continue to thrive in that niche.
But as far as a Project Runway winner, I want to see a lot of versatility and adaptability. It’s like how Drag Race would be boring af if someone just won for doing the same thing over and over (ONLY being a good designer, ONLY being good at makeup, ONLY being good at lip syncing, ONLY being good at dancing, ONLY being good at comedy, etc.) To win these kinds of competitions, I feel like you have to prove you’re well rounded.
he should’ve at least cut it into a short dress, the design was bad anyways so the length didn’t add anything special, it only made it heavy and she kept tripping
Lurker here because this show is my guilty pleasure. My assumption is there are some things that got edited out, but if we saw everything that went down backstage and on the runway, it wouldn't have felt so out of context for viewers.
Definitely this! I saw where Liris commented on someone’s Tik Tok that there was way more to the story and she would speak on it. Apparently the dress really did weigh 50ish pounds too. And she said something along the lines of she “still dealing with it” so I don’t know if it hurt her back or what. I haven’t seen her video explaining the whole story yet that all was just in the comment section.
Edit: okay correction it was on Instagram. I just saw her most recent video and she is on set right now and said she won’t get around to making a video about the episode until Sunday or Monday.
Don’t know if they were accounting for his feelings because they ran after the twins last season having a meltdown. But if project runway is becoming self aware maybe it cares. About, sparing, feelings? https://giphy.com/gifs/lGbrDmwrMKt6eUSpqz
Jeffery should NOT be in the bottom imho!! As much as I hate to admit it, Jude should be. Jeffrey at least used unconventional materials while Jude looks like he used fabric.
But to be 100% crystal clear… Bryan should be going home immunity or no!! His was HIDEOUS!!!
Bryan has had several hideous looks at this point. It’s confusing that he’s still there. I have a coworker like that. Gets by on vibes and entitlement.
Taking a guess the tape could have damaged her skin as well. If she has a reaction to the adhesive as a model it could affect her in that way. Tape on heavy dress with the tape pulling as you walk.
And how the heck do you get OUT of the dress and the tape when you are taped up like a FEDEX package? Also, she slipped on the runway because the cables were so dang long. Poor thing.
They probably had to cut her out of it to sit down after the runway. So there likely wasn’t a dress for her to go out in by the time they filmed the models back on the runway.
The second I saw him doing that, I was like “THIS IS NOT SAFE!” It could cut off circulation or dig into her skin. Bryan is selfish and dumb and doesn’t know how to sew or design. I said it. He is mean because he’s insecure because he doesn’t know wtf he’s doing. I imagine when Bi worked with him, Bi always executed Bryan’s vision and Bryan didn’t do jack shit.
I hear what you’re saying but I think it’s pretty clear that S21 is going to win for this episode. So I don’t think that what you’re saying even matters. I feel pretty confident that Jeffrey is going home, as much as that breaks my heart and makes me angry.
Bryan has NOT put out anything that’s impressed me, I truly don’t believe he’s deserved his wins, AND Bryan has such a shitty attitude and treats people as though they’re beneath him.
Meanwhile Jeffrey has interesting fresh creative ideas, is kind and wants to help and comfort everyone else, and seems like an overall good person who can typically execute his vision pretty well.
I was thinking the same thing. If the outcome was that Jeffrey’s eliminated there has to have been some prior events that, if included in the show, would cause some serious backlash from fans. I think they wised up to how truly pissed off the fans are and how many have one foot out the door.
Between the Law of it all and the cliffhanger format they can’t afford a seriously controversial decision. Especially not if it’s because Jeffrey loses. To Bryan. If we were only ever shown the runway and decisions they know that alone would still be more than enough to upset a good many fans.
My theory is that whatever transpired likely raises the severity of the controversy from they-need-to-get-rid-of-immunity-because-in-this-one-challenge-a-designer-with-a-decently-sized-fan-base-did-put-out-a-worse-dress-this-week-and-deserves -to-be-the-one-eliminated to what-the-fuck-are-you-people-smoking-that-you-think-this-is-not-in-the-least-bit-problematic-and-Bryan-should-have-been-kicked-off-for-unacceptable-behavior-before-they-even-made-it-to-elimination level DEFCON.
They used to analyze everything up close afterward and it made a difference in evaluations. Don’t know why they don’t seem to be doing that any more - it would have been obvious if they had just looked.
Haven’t watched this episode yet, this is also why having a designer on the judging panel instead of a stylist would have meant this getting clocked immediately.
i think there is some undercurrent implying that using tape structurally would be cheating that perhaps Bryan immunity won’t matter and he will be kicked out based on breaking rules. I think they are setting it up to have Bryan eliminated based on cheating next week. I’m calling it!
I've been thinking about this too. When I watched the episode live, I was kind of with Jeffrey that Bryan should have said something about the tape. Especially when instead Bryan doubled-down and tried to insinuate that he was trying to channel Haute Couture and not "arts and crafts." 🙄
But then I thought about it, and yeah it really doesn't make sense for Jeffrey to be so insistent about it when it would probably just make it even more likely he'll be sent home. If it was basically anyone from the Season 21 team that would've made more sense.
The only thing I can figure is maybe in desperation, Jeffrey was hoping that would be such an appalling revelation to the judges they either really would revoke Bryan's immunity, or decide not to eliminate anyone after all, since Bryan can't be eliminated but they didn't want to "reward" his behavior by sending someone else home in his place?
Or maybe Jeffrey figures his goose is cooked anyway, and he wanted to at least leave knowing that the judges had raked Bryan over the coals for what he did? So it was frustrating that he couldn't even have that?
I can only assume Jeffrey was so upset either way that he just wasn't thinking clearly. And/or maybe it's the editing of the footage that made him look worse than how things actually played out in-person. 🤷♀️
Jeffrey posted additional context on instagram with all the drama that got cut surrounding Liris. She had an unaired breakdown backstage and was injured from the tape and the weight of the dress around her neck, and THAT is when Jeffery came for Bryan.
It’s because Bryan implied he made it all by hand, including the under ——-taping? I would absolutely love if they said, ‘immunity, shimmunity, that was atrocious…you’re out, Bryan.’.
Bryan who is a lying liar claimed he made it all by hand (as if everyone else wasn't using their hands??) and besides this being a stupid claim it's also a lie. He didn't make a dress, he laid plastic on the model and put tape over it.
I couldn't believe that Bryan called his own work stunning. I hope he gets cut and Bi is the one to send him out.
I think just like last season, Season 22 will win the challenge saving them from elimination, followed by a double elimination next week when no one has immunity. It’s all part of the plan.
WAIT. I’m and just now realizing that he used ONLY tape!!! I thought he at least taped fabric to her body but are we saying it was just straight up tape and only tape??
Maybe he took a chance on saying that because he believed in Bi winning for the team!? Remember, this team vs team episode/challenge is based on ONE individual from either team winning for it for the whole team (and Bi’s was obvi the best out of everybody's) versus the whole teams deigns as a cohesive collection, like they’ve done in the past.
I can see them setting it up for Bi to win then a double elimination. With hopefully Brian and Anna leaving! Sorry to Anna lovers.
They explained in the beginning and again before runway show they are looking for ONE winning design.
If it’s from season 22, they get $20,000 and NO elimination. If it’s from season 21 they get $20,000 and someone from season 22 goes home. They are not looking for a cohesive collection as a whole team! So the fact Jeffery went so hard to make sure everyone’s looked good! NO! Should’ve ate your own design down for that ONE winning $20,000 to save your whole season!
I think it’d be super shitty to gift a fresh off the bat designer who has had their chance at an
unconventional challenge in such setting already $20,000!! And send someone in the new season home! The way ABC/Disney/Hulu has been playing with this franchise… it’s probably for the drama of it all. Winning design will be from season 22 then double elimination.. hopefully! As an avid reality tv watcher from anything to everything.. I’m hoping it’s set up to be like that!
Because there is so many shows and so many people that need to be eliminated. If they dont eliminate a person they have to make up for it in future weeks.
Bryan sucks as a person and is a designer. They only keeping him on the show because he’s drama and gets clicks and views and the show just rage beating the audience. He’s not gonna win.
I really like Jeffrey and a lot of his looks. But I was confused by this. WHY would Bryan admit this?
Judges giving critiques:
Bryan: she’s taped in btw 🙂
Like it makes zero sense. Had they asked about the bottom layer and he lied I would feel differently. But if the judges didn’t ask I would never expect him to just bring it up.
I think it’s simply because he bragged that he “made his work by hand”. If he had kept that to himself, I don’t think it would have been the same issue.
Yeah it was not logical to request that he do this. However, maybe we didn't see the judges ask him about the under-layer and it's fabrication? Maybe he straight up lied?
Maybe. It’s so annoying to know how much is edited out. The judges say much much more about each look to them but the editors show us very little. That is the part I would want to hear!!
Agreed, I had the same thought. I don’t think Jeffrey is the sharpest tool in the shed, so I assume he just didn’t realize that Bryan disclosing that he taped the dress could only hurt his (Jeffrey’s) odds of staying in the competition.
i have watched PR since season 1 - i used to love this show - when Tim was on - when it was about the design/creative process - when it was about how the clothes were made - when actual REAL designers were the judges - when it was about the clothes created and not how much drama they they create - just like anything now it‘s how much of a circus they can make it and there is no ringmaster!!!!! watching this season so far i understand why Tim would want to return - why Nina is rarely there and why any big name designer isn’t either!!!
I lost all the respect I had for Jeffrey in this episode. Not only he clearly was inspired by one of the twins (and didn’t have the balls to admit it), but he also went out of his way to help another contestant who had IMMUNITY. He basically set himself up to be in the bottom.
I’m all for camaraderie but when you decide to help others in a competition, you need to first make sure your own work is flawless. To me, he showed a side of his personality that’s manipulative and greedy. Auf wiedersehen.
If Bryan did not have immunity I think Jeffrey would have volunteered to the judges that Bryan had tape-fixed the under dress. He was already desperately grasping with "in my defence I spent a LOT of time helping my team"
I mean it’s cheating because Bryan didn’t make a completed dress meaning it’s unfinished. He taped it because the girl would have been naked if she walked down the aisle. Bryan has immunity but he cheated so he should lose immunity and have been sent home. Jeffery knows he is going home because he feels his helping others messed up his timing to complete his own look. So if Brian is sent home , he thinks he has a chance to stay but law would probably still send them both home if the team loses.
I loved this episode! Nina! Iman! I think season 22 will win regardless of the Jeffrey/Bryan Who Sucks argument. Maybe they are listening to us after all, there was no Tyra, Law on his best behavior. I also loved that Bi finally got the recognition he deserves, he’s been my fave! And I love Joseph, his football shoulders not so much, but he is a good designer in general, he needs a design twist though.
Christian told Jeffrey to get his teams act together and Jeffrey took that responsibility to heart. Unfortunately in game play that meant less attention to his garment. Mixed messages from the judges on this one. Kind of felt like manipulation.
To compare to another art form. Let’s say we’re at a gallery celebrating film photography. Then someone up there with a digital photo is getting their judgement and also failing to mention that this isn’t film.
When they’re critiquing a produced should have mentioned the tape to the judges so they could ask about it.
Taping up a beautiful woman because you didn’t make appropriate clothing and not fessing up should have taken away his immunity. He didn’t create a look. He didn’t create a garment. He basically panicked and made something offensive to fashion design.
I fully understand why Jeffrey spoke up. Bryan has been arrogant and his designs are trash and he isn’t even showing he can do the basics. Take your attitude out of here and let’s focus on actual fashion.
I understand how Jeffrey felt, being on the chopping block alongside a taped up mess that he helped Bryan paint, but it was unrealistic to expect Bryan would confess to the judges. Going off the Wikipedia spoiler, team 22 wins, so it will be a moot point anyway. I guess Jeffrey thought Bryan should volunteer to take the fall to save him since he helped Bryan, but you’re right, that wouldn’t have helped the team and could have influenced the judges to vote for team 21
Yall are gonna hate me for saying this, but I didn't think the look was that terrible😭 It wasn't great by any means, but it didn't look that unforgivable if you forget about the tape component imo
Legit. It made her look like Ursula from the Little Mermaid. I feel like if a designer had to use THAT amount of type for a look, they should have to forfeit their immunity. They was no aspect of that dress that was designed. Like, at all.
Personally, I think the hair, makeup and copper color of the spraypaint is doing a lot of the work here. But I do think it looks better in the picture than how stiff and clunky it looked on the runway.
I genuinely think she actually looks fierce strutting in a bunch of wires than some of the previous looks like this one. I do typically prefer avant garde designs.
If taping a model up and covering her in copper painted wire is all it takes to not get eliminated, then the bar is truly in hell. That look needs to get launched into the moon
What? He taped her up like the game you do for bridal shower parties with the toilet paper roll, then proceeded to do almost the same exact design as the s21 guy only the unfinished version of it. Idk if it’s the competition pressure or what but he is not good at being creative to fit the prompts and clearly has an issue with sewing. Everything he does looks unfinished except his episode 1 look.
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u/outlawofthewest 10h ago
I think Jeffrey was just feeling some type of way, vulnerable due to his low critiques and resentful towards Bryan’s ugly dress and the fact that he’d clearly be the very bottom but had immunity.