Foot injury forces J. Lo to miss ‘Runway’ finale

Jennifer Lopez has canceled her appearance as guest judge for “Project Runway’s” finale, Access Hollywood has learned.

On Friday morning, Heidi Klum announced that Lopez would be absent from Bryant Park “due to a foot injury.” The show’s resident style guru, Tim Gunn, will fill in for J.Lo as a judge for the finale.

The announcement was made in New York at the “Project Runway” Season Five Finale Fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s celebrity judge, Victoria Beckham, Lopez was set to help Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia pick this year’s top designer.

On the heels of the announcement, a rep for Lopez confirmed to Access that while the injury will prevent her from her “Runway” gig, the star still plans to participate in this weekend’s triathlon in Malibu, Calif.

The rep went on to say said that the singer was ordered to rest and complete some physical rehab to help with the injury.

Lopez has been training for the triathlon for two months and remains committed to raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, according to her rep. “She’s determined to get through the race,” the rep told Access.

Slide show Making of a superstar From Fly Girl to international celebrity, Jennifer Lopez's rise to fame — and her search for love — has made her a global phenomenon. more photos

The first-time mom of twins Max and Emme, with husband Marc Anthony, told “Good Morning America” in August that she was inspired to take on the heavy-duty athletic competition during her third trimester.

“It actually came up when I was about eight months pregnant, and I was beached … like a whale, and I was watching TV and I saw a triathlon and I said, ‘You know what? I think I could do that. That would be great for me to do, maybe I’ll do it this year,’” she told “GMA.” “Everybody told me I was crazy.”

As for “Runway,” where a foot injury is a model’s worst nightmare, host Klum told Access that she doesn’t know what to expect from the finale, but said nerves are running high with the contestants showing at Bryant Park.

“They’re really nervous, they’re anxious,” Klum said of the finalists.

This season, six contestants will get to show their collections in order to keep the audience guessing who are the final three.

MORE FROM ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment Section Front

Entertainers have long misbehaved on TV   Slideshow: ‘Dancing’ season finale Susan Boyle to her bullies: ‘I’m all grown up’   Sophia Loren on return to silver screen   Holiday movie preview   Bon Jovi perform ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’   Bon Jovi’s ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’   Bon Jovi perform ‘Superman Tonight’   Shalit reviews ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’   ‘Loser’ winner: Show was ‘such a blessing’ Entertainment Section Front   Add Entertainment headlines to your news reader: