Heidi Klum might have been the biggest name on the cast list during 16 seasons of "Project Runway," but the fan favorite was undoubtedly Michael Kors. Kors' expert opinions and laugh-out-loud critiques were TV gold, with many viewers creating threads dedicated to his best moments on the show. However, Kors shocked fans when he left the show in 2012, but as it turns out, he had a good reason for doing so.

According to a statement by Lifetime at the time of his departure, Kors left the show because he needed more time to focus and design clothes for his eponymous fashion brand (via Distractify). "Due to the back-to-back film schedule for Season 10 and Season 11 this summer, Michael was not able to commit to all the dates required for filming Season 11," the statement said. "Always part of the 'Project Runway' family, Michael will be seen in the future on the show."

Since his departure in 2010, Kors has returned to the show three times, and has nothing but love for the new cast.

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