Tyra Banks Sues Netflix, Claiming ‘ANTM’ Docuseries Framed Her in a Cruel False Narrative

Tyra Banks is taking legal action against Netflix over a recent documentary series about America’s Next Top Model. According to court documents cited by Variety, the former host and executive producer believes the series misrepresented her comments and created a false impression about her role in controversial moments from the long-running reality show.

The lawsuit was filed on Saturday and names Netflix, the production companies behind the project, and the documentary’s directors as defendants. Banks is accusing them of defamation, false light, breach of contract, and false endorsement.

At the center of the dispute is the documentary series Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. According to the lawsuit, Banks participated in an extensive interview for the project that lasted more than three hours. However, she claims only a small portion of that conversation made it into the final version seen by viewers.

The lawsuit argues that the interview was heavily edited in a way that changed the meaning of her statements. According to Banks’ legal team, important parts of her comments were removed, including moments where she accepted responsibility for mistakes and shortcomings associated with the reality competition series.

The complaint claims that what remained in the documentary was presented in a way that supported a negative narrative about Banks.

One of the main issues involves former America’s Next Top Model contestant Shandi Sullivan. According to the lawsuit, the documentary included a discussion about an incident that occurred during Sullivan’s time on the show. Banks alleges that producers asked her about Sullivan without providing key context regarding how the event would later be described in the documentary.

The lawsuit states that viewers were shown a moment where Banks appeared to hesitate after being asked if she remembered Sullivan’s story. According to the legal filing, the scene cuts away shortly afterward, creating what Banks describes as a misleading impression.

Her lawyers argue that the complete footage tells a very different story. According to the complaint, the unedited recording shows Banks immediately acknowledging that she remembered the contestant and her experience.

The lawsuit states that the editing choice was intentional and designed to suggest something that was not true.“The implication is devastating and deliberate,” the complaint argues.

Banks’ legal team also claims that the documentary wrongly suggests she knowingly ignored serious issues involving contestants during production of the original series. The lawsuit strongly denies those allegations and describes them as completely false.

According to the filing, Banks believes the final documentary failed to accurately represent what she actually said during her interview.

“That narrative about Ms. Banks is a complete fabrication,” the lawsuit states. America’s Next Top Model first premiered in 2003 and became one of the most successful reality competition shows of its era. Banks served as host for 22 seasons and became one of the most recognizable faces in reality television.

The documentary revisited many controversial moments from the show’s history and examined how some contestants viewed their experiences years later. While the series generated significant discussion online, Banks now argues that the production crossed a line by presenting edited material in a misleading way.

According to Variety, Banks is requesting a jury trial and seeking punitive damages. The exact amount has not been publicly disclosed.

As of now, Netflix has not publicly responded to the allegations. The case is expected to move through the legal system in the coming months, where both sides will have the opportunity to present their evidence regarding what happened during the production of the documentary.

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