The legacy of America’s Subsequent High Mannequin has moved from the runway straight right into a federal courtroom. Supermodel Tyra Banks has formally filed an explosive defamation lawsuit in opposition to streaming pioneer Netflix, alleging that producers maliciously displayed an edited narrative to destroy her popularity. Filed on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Tyra Banks’ lawsuit claims that the current three-part docuseries, Actuality Test: Inside America’s Subsequent High Mannequin, relied on a misleading, extremely calculated narrative that she was not aware about.
Based on PEOPLE, Banks initially agreed to take a seat down for a grueling three-and-a-half-hour interview as a result of she wished to offer a clear, sincere have a look at the groundbreaking actuality present’s historical past, together with taking accountability for choices which have confronted criticism within the years because the present aired. Nevertheless, Banks’ lawsuit alleges that producers used solely 16 minutes of the footage, eradicating her contextual feedback and modifying them to color her as a nasty man.
“Tyra Banks participated within the Netflix documentary sequence America’s Subsequent High Mannequin (‘ANTM’) as a result of she believed viewers deserved a candid dialog in regards to the present’s legacy—its successes and its shortcomings,” the lawsuit begins. “There are points of the present for which Ms. Banks takes accountability and he or she wished ANTM viewers to listen to that from her immediately,” the lawsuit said.
One of many extra damaging and extremely publicized claims within the authorized paperwork facilities round Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan. Within the Netflix docuseries, which debuted on February 16, Sullivan recalled the controversial 2004 episode in Italy, the place she drank closely and slept with a male mannequin regardless of having a boyfriend at residence. A long time later, Sullivan said she had blacked out on the time and accused manufacturing of modifying what she now considers a sexual assault right into a juicy dishonest storyline.
When the docuseries producers requested Banks about Sullivan’s trauma on digital camera, the ultimate broadcast depicted the supermodel giving a clean, upward look, implying she couldn’t even keep in mind the lady or the incident.
Nevertheless, the lawsuit said that what aired was not what occurred in actuality. The unedited, uncooked footage reveals that earlier than trying up, Banks nodded affirmatively and explicitly said, “I do keep in mind her story.” By surgically chopping the nod and erasing her vocal affirmation, producers ensured viewers solely noticed a manufactured lie. Moreover, Banks notes she was totally unaware that Sullivan categorized the encounter as an assault till the documentary aired.
The authorized grievance additional rejects the documentary’s implication that Banks ignored misconduct on set. The submitting reveals a hidden historic truth: throughout one particular cycle, a crew member reported a daily ANTM solid member for an inappropriate sample of sexual conduct.
Based on Banks, she instantly escalated the report back to the highest community executives. Manufacturing was promptly shut down, and the whole solid and crew had been pressured to endure necessary sexual harassment coaching carried out by an unbiased outdoors skilled. Banks’ lawsuit notes that the general public was denied the reality relating to Banks’ dedication to security as a result of omission of this data.
Tyra Banks’s Lawsuit Clears Up The Miss J Controversy
Banks’ lawsuit additionally addresses a deeply private accusation made by beloved runway coach Miss J Alexander. Within the docuseries, Miss J claimed that Banks had failed to go to him within the hospital following his 2022 stroke, which he repeated on Sherri Shepherd’s daytime speak present.
The supermodel’s authorized workforce alleged that producers utterly blocked the actual context. Had she been given the chance, Banks would have revealed she was residing in Australia for 2 and a half years throughout his preliminary restoration. The lawsuit paperwork an intensive paper path, together with unresponded textual content messages, determined check-ins with crew members to find Miss J, and a delayed textual content from his household apologizing to Banks for his or her sluggish communication throughout the medical disaster.
In truth, the lawsuit notes the pair spent three subsequent years sending intimate voice notes, vacation messages, and pictures to 1 one other. As not too long ago as Christmas Day 2025, they exchanged heat updates, with Banks asking to hop on a name simply weeks earlier than the defamatory documentary aired worldwide.
As Banks seeks unspecified damages for enormous lack of future enterprise earnings, emotional misery, and company manipulation, distinguished ANTM figures are publicly siding along with her. Fierce PR maven Kelly Cutrone, who judged sat on the judges panel throughout cycles 18-22, voiced assist for Banks.
“I believe that 80 % of [the docuseries] is extremely twisted,” Cutrone instructed PEOPLE. “She’s completed lots for folks, together with the people who find themselves on the market trashing her proper now… I consider that the info and the reality will come ahead.”
Cycle 8 winner Jaslene González equally expressed unwavering gratitude, stating that the platform utterly remodeled her life in a optimistic method. With main business allies backing her narrative, Banks is demanding a full jury trial to show the darkish modifying secrets and techniques behind trendy documentary storytelling.
What do you suppose? Does Tyra have a leg to face on on this lawsuit?
