Tyra Banks sues Netflix over America’s Next Top Model docuseries

Tyra Banks is taking Netflix to court over the recent docuseries called Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. According to reports from Variety, Banks claims that her three-and-a-half-hour interview was edited down to just 16 minutes to paint her in a negative light. She’s filed a lawsuit against Netflix, 89 Blocks Holdings, EverWonder Studio, Netflix Music, and the docuseries’ co-directors, Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, for false light, defamation by implication, breach of contract, and false endorsement.

The lawsuit alleges that the show’s producers manipulated the footage to twist the narrative. One particular moment focuses on a former contestant named Shandi Sullivan, who shared her experiences on the show. The series portrays Sullivan in a negative light, but in reality, she describes a situation where she was too intoxicated to consent to an encounter. Banks claims she was unaware of this context when it was brought up during the interview. The edited footage makes it seem like Banks couldn’t remember Sullivan’s story, but the full footage shows otherwise.

Now, Banks is seeking a jury trial and punitive damages against the producers of the docuseries. The lawsuit claims that the editing was done to create a false and damaging narrative about Banks, disregarding the full context of her interview. It’s a legal battle that highlights the importance of accurate storytelling and ethical editing practices in the entertainment industry.