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 distorting her interview footage to create a false narrative. The three-part series, which premiered in February, aimed to uncover the controversial aspects of the long-running reality show “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) that aired from 2003 to 2018.
The docuseries delved into contentious issues within ANTM, such as its controversial makeovers involving Blackface and brownface, as well as allegations of sexual assault by a contestant from Season 2. However, writer Amil Niazi criticized the series, describing it as a shallow acknowledgment of past mistakes.
Banks, who served as the creator and host of ANTM, claims in her legal complaint that the docuseries misrepresented her level of accountability. According to court documents, Banks was interviewed for over three hours, but her statements were selectively edited down to just 16 minutes, distorting her true intentions and portraying her in a defamatory light.
The lawsuit specifically references former ANTM contestant Shandi Sullivan, highlighting a misrepresentation of her story on the show. Sullivan, who appeared on Season 2, disclosed that she was portrayed inaccurately by the production team, alleging that a consensual encounter was framed as infidelity. The lawsuit asserts that Banks was misled during the interview regarding Sullivan’s experience, leading to a misleading depiction in the final cut of the series.
Moreover, the legal action contends that Banks was prepared to address ANTM’s legacy and shortcomings during the interview, but her genuine reflections were omitted from the final production. It emphasizes that viewers expect documentaries like “Reality Check” to present factual information rather than manufactured drama.
Despite the show’s popularity, with “Reality Check” garnering 14.2 million views in its first week on Netflix, Banks is pursuing damages in her lawsuit. She is also seeking an injunction to prevent the use of her image in connection with the docuseries’ soundtrack, released earlier this year. As of now, neither Netflix nor the defendants have responded to requests for comment on the matter.
