*Tyra Banks is taking Netflix to court, alleging the streaming giant manipulated footage from a lengthy interview to create a false and damaging portrayal of her role in some of the most controversial moments from “America’s Next Top Model.”
According to a lawsuit filed Saturday, June 13, Banks claims her appearance in “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” was edited in a way that supported what she describes as a “false and defamatory narrative” about her conduct during the long-running reality competition series.
The legal battle centers on Banks’ claim that producers used only a small portion of a more than three-hour interview while stripping away crucial context that she says would have changed how viewers interpreted her responses, People is reporting.
A Dispute Over Accountability
Banks argues that she agreed to participate in the Netflix docuseries because she wanted an opportunity to openly discuss both the successes and shortcomings of “America’s Next Top Model,” a show she created and hosted for more than two decades.
According to the complaint, Banks did not place limits on the topics she was willing to discuss and spent approximately three and a half hours answering questions about the show’s legacy and criticisms that have followed it in recent years.
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The lawsuit alleges that only 16 minutes of that interview ultimately appeared in the three-part documentary.
Banks claims that footage showing her taking accountability for controversial moments from the show was removed and that her comments were edited in a way that supported a narrative she says does not reflect what she actually communicated during the interview.
“The genre matters,” the lawsuit states, arguing that audiences expect factual representation from documentaries rather than what Banks describes as manufactured narratives.
The Shandi Sullivan Controversy
One of the most significant issues addressed in the lawsuit involves former Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan.
In the Netflix series, Sullivan revisited an incident that occurred while contestants were filming in Italy. Sullivan said she was blacked out during an encounter with a male model and later came to view the incident as sexual assault.
She also accused production of framing the situation as a cheating scandal rather than addressing it as a traumatic experience.
Banks was asked about Sullivan during the documentary and stated that she was not involved in production decisions or storyline editing.
The lawsuit alleges that Netflix edited Banks’ response in a way that suggested she either did not remember Sullivan’s experience or was indifferent to it.
According to the complaint, producers omitted footage that showed Banks nodding and saying, “I do remember her story” before discussing the incident.
“The implication is devastating and deliberate,” the lawsuit states, arguing that the documentary falsely suggested Banks could not remember the story of a woman who alleged she had been assaulted while appearing on the show.
Banks further claims she was unaware before filming the documentary that Sullivan considered the incident a sexual assault.
Miss J And Other Allegations
The lawsuit also challenges how the documentary portrayed Banks’ relationship with former “ANTM” judge Miss J Alexander.
In the docuseries, Alexander discussed health struggles following a stroke and indicated that Banks had not visited him.
Banks argues she was never given an opportunity to respond to those comments before the documentary was released.
According to the lawsuit, Banks had been living in Australia for more than two years and had repeatedly attempted to contact Alexander after learning of his medical condition.
The complaint alleges that she exchanged text messages, voice notes, photographs and other communications with Alexander over several years and that producers omitted information that would have provided additional context for viewers.
Banks also points to an incident involving allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct by a regular cast member during the show’s run.
According to the lawsuit, Banks immediately escalated the matter to executives and helped ensure the issue received serious attention. The complaint states that production was paused and that cast and crew members underwent sexual-harassment training conducted by an outside expert.
Seeking Damages
Banks is suing Netflix and several individuals associated with the documentary, claiming the series damaged her reputation and harmed future business opportunities.
The lawsuit alleges that the documentary’s producers relied on “selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation” to construct a narrative that was both false and defamatory.
Banks is seeking damages for alleged financial losses and emotional distress and has requested a jury trial.
The lawsuit comes months after “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” reignited debate about the reality series and its legacy. While some former contestants have criticized aspects of the show, others have defended Banks and credited the program with helping launch their careers.
Netflix and the other defendants named in the lawsuit had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
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