Supermodel Tyra Banks Is Suing Netflix
Supermodel Tyra Banks Is Suing Netflix. The “Top Model” host filed the lawsuit after the Netflix documentary allegedly depicted her in a negative light. And, it all began after the interview with the streaming service was cut short. There was a false narrative that allegedly misrepresented her original statement. In other words, Netflix did not present Tyra in a positive light.
Tyra Banks Files Explosive Defamation Lawsuit Against Netflix Over ‘ANTM’ Docuseries
Supermodel and television mogul Tyra Banks is taking legal action against streaming giant Netflix. In a lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles federal court, the creator of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) alleges that a recent documentary deliberately manipulated her interview footage to construct a “false and defamatory narrative.”
The legal battle stems from her participation in the three-part docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which premiered earlier this year.
The Core Allegations: “Surgical Manipulation”
According to the lawsuit, Banks sat down for a comprehensive, three-and-a-half-hour interview with the filmmakers. She claims she entered the conversation in good faith to discuss the nuanced legacy of ANTM, explicitly taking accountability for some of the reality show’s past controversial moments.
However, her lawyers state that the producers stripped the footage to just 16 minutes, intentionally leaving her moments of accountability on the cutting-room floor. The suit names Netflix, EverWonder Studio, 89 Blocks Holdings, and co-directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, accusing them of:
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Defamation by implication
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False light
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Breach of contract
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False endorsement
“The false narrative the producers constructed — through selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage — included that Ms. Banks knowingly allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on her show, exploited that contestant’s trauma for ratings, and then could not even remember it when asked.” — Excerpt from the legal filing.
The Shandi Sullivan Interview Controversy
The most damaging claim in the lawsuit centers around Season 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan. In the docuseries, Sullivan opens up about an incident during the 2004 production that she now identifies as a sexual assault due to extreme intoxication.
Banks’ legal team argues that the producers heavily edited Tyra’s reaction to make it appear as though she was callously evasive. When asked on camera, “You remember the story with Shandi?” the docuseries cuts to Banks looking upward and saying “um” before cutting to black.
The lawsuit firmly states that Banks was never told or asked about the sexual assault context during the interview, and that the final cut deliberately implies she forgot about a traumatic event involving one of her contestants.
Severe Backlash and Collateral Damage
The public fallout for Banks has been swift. Beyond facing intense scrutiny on social media, the lawsuit notes that Banks’ businesses have suffered collateral damage. Specifically, her premium ice cream brand, SMiZE & DREAM, has faced aggressive review-bombing on Google since the documentary aired.
Furthermore, the suit alleges that other former ANTM judges—including individuals with personal grudges against Banks—secretly served as editorial consultants on the docuseries, which Banks’ team describes as a deliberate “setup.”
What Tyra Is Seeking
According to reporting from TVLine, Banks is seeking:
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Compensatory and punitive damages for reputational harm, lost business opportunities, and mental anguish.
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An injunction to bar Netflix from using her image on the docuseries’ released soundtrack album.
Representatives for Netflix and EverWonder Studio have not yet publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the filing.
For more details on the specific counts filed in federal court, you can read the comprehensive breakdown on The A.V. Club and the full Associated Press report hosted by AP News.
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