Supermodel and television personality Tyra Banks has initiated legal proceedings against Netflix, alleging defamation in connection with the docuseries 'Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model'. The lawsuit, filed on a recent Saturday, claims that the three-part documentary, which explores controversies surrounding her long-running reality competition show, 'America’s Next Top Model' (ANTM), presented a misleading and damaging portrayal of her involvement as host, judge, and executive producer.
Banks, aged 52, asserts that the producers of the Netflix series deliberately manipulated footage and selectively edited her interview to construct a false narrative. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the documentary implied Banks was aware of a contestant being sexually assaulted on the show, exploited the individual's trauma for ratings, and subsequently claimed not to recall the incident. Banks vehemently denies this, stating the narrative is a “complete fabrication” that was streamed to a global audience.
The docuseries delved into various criticisms levelled against ANTM across its 24 seasons, including an instance where a contestant claimed sexual assault occurred during filming, with allegations that producers failed to intervene. Banks maintains she agreed to participate in the project intending to engage in an honest discussion about ANTM's legacy, acknowledging both its successes and shortcomings. However, her lawsuit contends that only 16 minutes of her extensive three-and-a-half-hour interview were featured, stripped of their original context and reassembled to support a defamatory storyline.
The legal filing further suggests that the docuseries has negatively impacted Banks's ice cream brand, SMiZE & DREAM, noting a plummet in online ratings for the Australian business since the documentary's release in February. Banks is seeking a jury trial to determine damages, which would cover losses in future business opportunities and income, though a specific monetary amount has not been publicly disclosed in the complaint. Netflix has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
For UK viewers, 'Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model' is available to stream on Netflix. 'America’s Next Top Model' itself, a show that garnered considerable attention and debate over its format and impact, is not currently widely available for streaming in its entirety on major UK platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, or Channel 4, though select seasons may appear on various on-demand services.