Project Runway lauded as ‘a fucking disorganized, unprofessional shitshow’

If you’ve watched Project Runway season 22, or season 21 before it, you will not be surprised by what one of its cast members has to say, because you know that the Freeform/Hulu/Disney version only resembles the original in the way that poop resembles the dinner you had the night before.

Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia might be there—oh wait, Nina’s never there—but it’s just not Project Runway, skipping over most of the design and judging in order to focus on forced, petty drama.

Still, it’s interesting to hear that directly from a cast member, and one who’s been on other reality TV shows, even if that person is Plane Jane.

In a video titled “Breaking My Silence on Project Runway (I Might Get Sued),” which you can watch below, Plane details the experience, from casting to being eliminated, and summarizes it like this:

What a fucking disorganized, unprofessional shitshow. I really just thought it would be different, but it was disgusting. After filming Drag Race and after filming House of Villains, I just had a different set of expectations for how talent should be treated on set.

Considering this season so far, “disorganized, unprofessional shitshow” is being quite kind. Alas, Plane didn’t detail the on-set treatment, but instead speaks in generalities:”

• “They treated me like shit, like the rest of those fucking designers.”
• “It was not a pleasant experience,” she said. “I did let production have it”
• “I think they felt like they could just get away with a lot … they’re not expecting any of these people to speak up”

However, Plane did offer some damning and/or hilarious claims:

• The production transported cast via Uber, and on the first day, sent Plane, Naheim, Jude, and a PA to the wrong place after giving the Uber app the wrong destination.
• A casting producer told Plane Jane that assistants would help out in the workroom, and not to worry about a lack of sewing and design experience because that isn’t the show’s focus any more.
• Plane Jane was actually eliminated second, but the editing worked around that to turn Plane Jane’s elimination into the cliffhanger.
• The cast stayed at “some random hotel in Jersey.”
• While all reality TV show sets have periods of time of waiting, Plane said, “after sending our models out of the workroom we had to wait hours,” describing the gap as morning to late afternoon. “I never had to wait that long on Drag Race.”

It was obvious that Plane’s casting was stunt casting, and Plane says that: “What business do I have on Project Runway? None, quite frankly.”

Plane said they told their manager, “I don’t think this is for me,” but eventually agreed—and then decided that it really wasn’t a good idea. “I declined and then was begged on hands and knees to say yes, which I did,” Plane said.

During that call, an unnamed producer talked Plane Jane into it: “He is basically telling me that any doubts in my mind about going on this show should not exist. They think I’m perfect for this show,” Plane said. “The design aspect isn’t what the show so much focuses on any more. There are going to be assistants in the studio.”

Plane Jane said there are “text receipts” and other documents backing all this up, but also admitted, “I may be slightly embellishing,” though the story is the same: “producers called me and pretty much convinced me, talked me back into saying yes.”

Before filming began, Plane visited Utica, who was on Project Runway 21, and Utica “gave me some of her sewing tools, some patterns,” and showed Plane how to use commercial sewing machines.

Then the production confiscated all the patterns and tools Plane brought along—which was a surprise: “They made it seem like it was a little more chill for me. They made it seem like me and the producers would be on the same page as to what exactly I was doing.”

While I doubt we’ll see Plane Jane back on Project Runway like Joseph McRae, Plane says she’s up for more reality TV (of course!), such as The Great British Bake-Off, The Traitors, and Dancing with the Stars. However, there’s one show she wouldn’t do: “Big Brother’s been tainted because Selina’s been on it, and I just find her really repulsive and atrocious.”

I imagine those who find Plane’s commentary to be repulsive and atrocious might question some of her Project Runway claims, especially since she didn’t even get much screen time, but the fact that none of it seems remotely surprising is a Project Runway problem. Another Project Runway problem.