Antonio’s Exit Shakes Up Project Runway Finale Prospects

Lead Tensions reached a boiling point on Project Runway’s September 19 installment as contestant Antonio dramatically left the competition amid backstage clashes, leaving the remaining designers stunned.

Nut Graf In a surprise turn during the penultimate episode’s live judging, series mentor Christian Siriano overturned a planned double elimination, only for Antonio to announce his departure moments later. His exit casts new uncertainty over which three designers will vie for the Season 21 crown.

Key Developments

• Christian Siriano’s Veto: After Heidi Klum declared a double knockout of Belania and Jesus following the Wicked-inspired avant-garde challenge, Siriano intervened to keep all five designers in play.
• High-Stakes Challenge: Sponsored by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the two-day task tasked designers with crafting dramatic, theatre-worthy looks for the upcoming Wicked film under Paul Tazewell’s guidance.
• Backstage Feud Boils Over: Long-standing tensions between Veejay and the Estrada twins escalated during the runway deliberations, prompting Antonio to storm off set and exit the competition.
• Final Three Dynamics: With Antonio gone, remaining hopefuls Veejay, Belania, Jesus and Ethan must now compete for just three spots in the Season 21 finale.

Drama and Departure Backstage, Veejay accused the twins of needling each other for “clicks,” while Jesus shot back at her claims of innocence. As producers attempted to restore order, Antonio quietly packed his bags and left, later saying, “I’m going home”-a move he claimed was driven by frustration with the show’s escalating drama.

What’s Next Project Runway returns September 25 at 10 PM ET on Freeform for the Season 21 finale, where the remaining designers will present their final collections. Viewers will see if the enforced three-designer limit holds or if more surprises await on the runway.