Tyra Banks accuses Netflix of defamation in 'ANTM' documentary lawsuit

Tyra Banks has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, accusing the streaming giant of misrepresenting her in the documentary series Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model through what she describes as selective editing and “manipulation” of her interview footage.

According to court documents obtained by People, filed on Saturday, June 13, Banks claims the series used only 16 minutes of her three-and-a-half-hour interview and removed key context that showed her taking accountability for controversial moments in the long-running reality franchise.

The lawsuit argues that the edited footage was “stripped of context and reassembled to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed.”

Banks participated in the documentary, believing it would present an honest discussion about the legacy of America’s Next Top Model, which she created and hosted for 22 cycles after launching the show in 2003.

She said she agreed to an unrestricted interview, expecting viewers to see both criticism and her responses in full context.

“The Netflix series was sold to viewers as a documentary series,” the lawsuit states, adding that audiences “do not expect manufactured drama or constructed narratives. They expect facts.”

One of the most serious allegations raised in the lawsuit concerns a segment involving former contestant Shandi Sullivan.

The documentary included Sullivan’s account of an alleged sexual assault during filming, alongside Banks’ response to the situation.

Banks claims the series wrongly implied she was dismissive or uninvolved, a portrayal she calls “a complete fabrication.”

The filing further alleges that producers removed footage in which Banks acknowledged Sullivan’s situation and stated, “I do remember her story,” which the lawsuit says was deliberately edited to create a misleading impression.

Banks also challenges claims made in the documentary regarding her alleged lack of support for longtime ANTM judge Miss J. Alexander following his stroke.

The lawsuit says she was not given an opportunity to respond to on-screen assertions and that she had, in fact, maintained ongoing communication and attempted contact during that period.

According to the filing, Banks was living in Australia for part of the time in question and had continued to exchange messages with Alexander and others connected to him, including texts, calls, and voice notes.

The lawsuit also references statements by documentary directors suggesting Banks was given full opportunity to “share her side of the story,” arguing instead that key responses and context were omitted from the final edit.

Banks is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages, citing reputational harm, loss of business opportunities, and emotional distress.

Netflix, along with production companies EverWonder Studio and Wise Child Studio, as well as directors and individuals featured in the series, have not publicly responded to the allegations.

The documentary, released earlier this year, revisits the cultural impact and controversies of America’s Next Top Model, which ran for more than two decades and remains one of reality television’s most influential and debated franchises.