A catfight has erupted behind the scenes of Naomi Campbell’s catwalking-competition show, “The Face.” Sources tell Page Six that Campbell and co-hosts Coco Rocha and Karolina Kurkova are bickering backstage while shooting the upcoming Oxygen series, leaving Nigel Barker as mediator.
“Nigel is the only one who gets along with everyone,” said a spy. “He’s been left as the host and the referee. You’ve got three models, all at different stages of their careers and different ages, and they are really not getting along. It’s a competition show, and none of them are used to losing.”
Another source says of the infamously tetchy Campbell: “Naomi doesn’t have to have a reason not to like somebody. She just doesn’t like certain people.”
The source adds that Rocha’s goody-two-shoes personality and Campbell’s bad-girl swagger clash like oil and water, and that the younger Rocha’s the odd model out in the mix.
“There were some issues with Coco being on time and Naomi not being on time and Coco getting annoyed,” a spy said. “Coco’s a Jehovah’s Witness, and she believes in being correct and polite and being on time. She doesn’t drink. She’s super straight-laced. So it’s been a real mess between [Coco and Naomi].”
Barker was overheard talking about the squabbling on the show, which debuts in February, at an Edeyo Foundation benefit at Pink Elephant to send holiday gifts to children in Haiti.
Barker and Kurkova have both tried to remain neutral, like the show’s “Switzerland,” a spy says, but Campbell’s made it difficult not to pledge allegiance to her.
“Karolina knows how to deal with Naomi. She’s known her for a longer time,” the source says. “Coco clearly knows Naomi doesn’t like her. Naomi’s tough. If you are not kissing her ass, you are dead.”
Campbell tweeted ominously yesterday: “I don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends I can be certain of.”
A rep for Oxygen said: “‘The Face’ is a high stakes modeling competition series featuring three amazing and highly professional supermodel coaches, vying to give one young, deserving woman the opportunity of a lifetime. So yes, there was high emotion and endless passion while the show was in production, each coach was determined to win and help fulfill a dream for one aspiring model. Beginning February 12th, viewers will see this excitement unfold on-air.”
Eden Gaha, executive producer of the show and president of production company Shine America, added, “Working alongside Naomi has been a real pleasure. She has been nothing short of a consummate professional in her role as an executive producer and star, adding an incredible amount to ‘The Face,’ as have our other two coaches Coco and Karolina and host Nigel. We believe we have captured something very special with this series and can’t wait to share it with the audience.”