Former supermodel Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, accusing the streaming platform’s docuseries, “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,” of defaming her by distorting her interview footage to create a false narrative.
Released in February, the three-part series aimed to shed light on controversial aspects of the reality show “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) that aired from 2003 to 2018. It delved into contentious issues like the show’s drastic makeovers, which involved photoshoots featuring Blackface and brownface, and allegations of sexual misconduct by a Season 2 contestant.
According to court documents, Banks, the creator and host of ANTM, claims that the docuseries misrepresents her level of accountability. The lawsuit alleges that Banks’ three-and-a-half-hour interview was condensed to just 16 minutes, with the content manipulated to fit a defamatory narrative that diverged from her actual statements.
One of the focal points of the lawsuit is the handling of contestant Shandi Sullivan’s story from ANTM Season 2. Sullivan, appearing on “Reality Check,” described an incident where she felt she was sexually assaulted while intoxicated, contrasting with how the show portrayed it as infidelity. The lawsuit asserts that Banks was unaware of Sullivan’s assault allegation until prompted during the interview, a moment that was selectively edited to imply Banks’ lack of recollection.
The legal action emphasizes that Banks had been forthcoming during the interview about addressing ANTM’s legacy and shortcomings, but this transparency was allegedly omitted in the final production. It contends that a documentary like “Reality Check” should prioritize factual accuracy over sensationalized narratives, especially considering the high viewership it garnered on Netflix.
Banks is pursuing damages of an unspecified amount and requesting an injunction to prevent the unauthorized use of her likeness in connection with the docuseries’ soundtrack release. As of now, Netflix and the defendants have not provided a response to CBC News’s inquiries regarding the lawsuit.