Former supermodel Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, accusing them of defamation in their docuseries titled “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.” Banks claims that the series used manipulated footage from her interviews to create a false narrative. The three-part docuseries, released in February, aimed to shed light on the controversial aspects of “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) which aired from 2003 to 2018.
One of the docuseries’ focuses was on the contentious makeovers featured on ANTM, including photoshoots involving Blackface and brownface, as well as allegations of sexual assault by a Season 2 contestant. However, writer Amil Niazi criticized the series, describing it as a shallow apology.
According to court documents obtained by CBC News, Banks alleges that her three-and-a-half-hour interview was edited down to just 16 minutes, and the content was manipulated to support a defamatory narrative that misrepresented her actual statements.
The lawsuit specifically mentions contestant Shandi Sullivan from ANTM Season 2, who claimed she was portrayed inaccurately in the series. Sullivan described an incident as a sexual assault that was misrepresented as infidelity on the show. The lawsuit highlights an instance where producers asked Banks about Sullivan without specifying the assault, insinuating that Banks had forgotten about the incident.
Banks asserts that she was prepared to address ANTM’s legacy and shortcomings during the interview but that her genuine accountability was omitted from the final cut of the docuseries. The lawsuit emphasizes that viewers expect factual content in a documentary, not manufactured drama or distorted narratives.
“Reality Check” garnered significant viewership on Netflix, with 14.2 million views within the first week of release, as reported by Variety magazine. Banks is seeking damages in the lawsuit and requesting an injunction to prevent the use of her image in connection with the docuseries’ soundtrack album released earlier this year. As of now, Netflix and the defendants’ representatives have not responded to CBC News’s request for comment.
