Netflix has asked a court to dismiss supermodel Tyra Banks’ defamation lawsuit concerning the documentary series "Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model." The streaming company filed legal documents on Friday, asserting that the documentarians, Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy, are respected professionals who conducted thorough interviews with individuals involved in the show.
In a statement to Us Weekly, a Netflix spokesperson said, "Tyra Banks was given the opportunity to speak openly about her experience and the creators fairly presented her perspective alongside those of every other participant shown in this documentary. We stand behind ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’ and will continue to vigorously defend it."
Banks, 52, filed her lawsuit in federal court in California earlier this summer. She claims she was manipulated into participating in the documentary and objects to certain aspects of its content. According to court documents cited by People, Banks stated she participated in interviews believing viewers deserved a candid discussion about the show's legacy, including its successes and shortcomings. She also indicated a willingness to take accountability for aspects of the show she would approach differently today.
Her lawsuit alleges that while she participated in a three-and-a-half-hour interview, only about 16 minutes of footage made it into the final cut. Banks described this edited material as "stripped of context and reassembled to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed." The lawsuit further contends that viewers expect factual reporting from a "documentary series" and not "manufactured drama or constructed narratives."
Attorneys for Banks, Tom Locke and Clare Locke, stated to Us Weekly that the lawsuit poses the question of whether viewers can trust that a documentary presented as fact accurately represents events and statements. They argued that Netflix's response highlights issues with how reality television is edited and applied to this documentary, asserting that the edits materially distorted the truth. Banks’ legal team has challenged Netflix to release the full, unedited interview footage for public comparison.
In the documentary, Banks addressed controversial aspects of "America's Next Top Model," which concluded in 2018 after 24 seasons. Her lawsuit specifically targets claims made by former contestant Shandi Sullivan regarding an alleged sexual assault in Italy. The documentary depicted an interaction where Sullivan, who reportedly had a boyfriend at the time, claimed to have blacked out, portraying the event as a cheating scandal. Banks’ lawsuit asserts that the documentary’s narrative, which suggested she knowingly allowed a contestant to be assaulted and exploited her trauma for ratings, is a fabrication.
The lawsuit also disputes claims that Banks halted production after a crew member reported inappropriate conduct. The documents state that Banks promptly shared the report with executives, escalated the issue to the network, and production was paused for sexual harassment training conducted by an external expert. This action, according to the lawsuit, demonstrates that Banks acted promptly and seriously addressed the matter, contradicting the narrative presented in the documentary.