Project Runway All Stars Season Two Finale: The Confession!

Oprah interviews Project Runway All Stars champion and cancer survivor Anthony Ryan:

Oprah Winfrey: “So here we are in Austin Texas. A few days ago you texted to the Associated Press and you said ‘I told her to go wherever she wants.’ -- her meaning me -- ‘and I’ll answer the questions directly, honestly, and candidly. That’s all I can say.’ Those are your words?”

Anthony Ryan: “Those are my words.”

Oprah: “When we met a week ago today, we agreed that there would be no holds barred, there would be no conditions on this interview, and that this would be an open field.”

AR: “I think that’s best for both of us”

Oprah: “I agree. So here we go: open field. So let’s start with the questions people all over the world have been waiting for you to answer, and for now I just want a Yes or No. This whole conversation, you will have plenty of time to go into detail, but for now just Yes or No.”

AR: “I understand.”

Oprah: “Yes or No: Did you ever take substances to enhance your designing performance?”

AR: "Yes."

Oprah: “Yes or No: Was one of those substances caffeine?”

AR: "Yes."

Oprah: “Yes or no: Are you so adorable that the Project Runway judges just want to eat you up with a spoon?”

AR: "Yes."

Oprah: “Yes or No: Is it true that Kayne Gillespy did much of the work on your final collection?”

AR: “Yes.”

Oprah: “Yes or No: Is it true that you just make variations on the same damn dress over and over again?”

AR “Yes.”

Oprah: “Yes or No: In all seven of your Project Runway victories, did you ever use glue or boob tape?”

AR: "Yes."

Oprah: “Was it humanly possible to win Project Runway All Stars without the judges being on crack?”

AR: "Not in my opinion. I didn't invent the culture, but I didn't try to stop the culture."

Oprah: “So you’re saying there is a crack culture among the Project Runway judges?”

AR: “Absolutely. Everyone knows they are on crack.”

Oprah: “Did you supply them with crack?”

AR: “No. That is a lie. I never tried to bribe the judges with crack. I know the accusations are out there, but it’s just a lie. The judges have been getting their own crack for years.”

Oprah: “OK. But it's true you had help with your final collection from one of the eliminated designers?”

AR: “Yes, but everyone was doing it. I know that isn’t an excuse, but I felt I had to do it in order to make it an even playing field.”

Oprah: “But you are Anthony Ryan. You set the standard. Everyone looks up to you. Don’t you think the other designers felt pressured into doing it because you were doing it?”

AR: “No, I didn’t ask anyone else to be involved.”

Oprah: “Are you sure? Because according to Joshua, you asked him to be a part of it. He couldn’t take the pressure anymore and he refused. You have to be in a pretty dark place to refuse to help your best friend achieve his goals.”

AR: “Well, I don’t want to talk about other people. If Joshua says that then I’m not going to say he’s wrong.”

Oprah: “So let’s talk about the endorsements. A capsule collection for Nine West; a fashion spread in Marie Claire and a position as guest editor for a year; an all-expenses-paid trip around the world to visit fashion weeks in cities such as Paris, London, Milan, and Tokyo from Laura Mercier; a technology suite and office space from HP and Intel to help run your business; a sewing and embroidery studio from Brother; and $150,000. You lost all of that.”

AR: “No, I won all of that.”

Oprah: “Oh. Well, what about your cancer charity Rock One? I assume they want to distance themselves from you because of this scandal.”

AR: “What scandal? I won Project Runway All Stars! I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Oprah: “Still in denial. So sad. You really don’t think this entire season of Project Runway All Stars has been a scandal?”

AR: “No. I don’t know what you’re talking about, Oprah!”

Oprah: “OK, maybe scandal isn’t the right word. Travesty? Atrocity?”

AR: “Gee, I really don’t think it’s that bad. You did vote for me for fan favorite.”

Oprah: “Did I?”

AR: “Yes. And when I say ‘You’ I mean everyone in the country.”

Oprah: “I don’t remember doing that.”

AR: “Are you calling me a liar, Oprah? Because I will sue you!”

Oprah: “Let’s move on. This season you created looks inspired by graffiti, the nineteen twenties, and haute couture, you were critiqued by everyone, from Diane von Furstenberg and Jason Woo to Kylie Minogue and Katie Holmes, and if that wasn't enough you also flew to Paris. So tell me, why admit to all this now?”

AR: "That is the best question. It's the most logical question. I don't know that I have a great answer. I will start my answer by saying that this is too late. It's too late for probably most people, and that's my fault. I mean, my performance on All Stars is just this mythic perfect story."

Oprah: "Was it hard to live up to that picture that was created?"

AR: "Impossible."

Oprah: "But didn't you help paint that picture?"

AR: "Of course I did. And a lot of people did. All the fault and all the blame here falls on me. But behind that picture and behind that story is momentum. Whether it's fans or whether it's the media, it just gets going. And I lost myself in all of that."

Oprah: “Let’s talk about your ruthless desire to win this competition.”

AR: "My ruthless desire to win at all costs served me well in the design room, but the level it went to, for whatever reason, is a flaw. That desire, that attitude, that arrogance."

Oprah: "Were you a bully?"

AR: "Yes, I was a bully. I remember one time I said I was going to win this competition, which is kind of mean because it implies that everyone else is going to lose."

Oprah: “Ouch. That’s harsh. Is that your nature? Have you been like that your entire life?”

AR: "My entire life. Before my diagnosis I was a competitor but not a fierce competitor. When I was diagnosed, that turned me into a fighter. That was good. I took that ruthless win-at-all-costs attitude into designing."

Oprah: "So that was the tipping point? And your comeback was also a tipping point? Do you regret coming back to Project Runway as an All Star?”

AR: "We wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't come back."

Oprah: “This is an epic story. What’s the moral to the story?”

AR: “Project Runway All Stars has given me a second chance to do what I love and I was faced with a lot of challenges and it's those crazy ass times that you really find the best of yourself. I came to this not expecting anything out of it other than coming back to design, showing a collection and I'm going to be able to do more.”

Oprah: “The truth will set you free.”