The legacy of America’s Subsequent Prime 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 repute. Filed on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Tyra Banks’ lawsuit claims that the current three-part docuseries, Actuality Verify: Inside America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin, relied on a misleading, extremely calculated narrative that she was not aware about.
In keeping with PEOPLE, Banks initially agreed to take a seat down for a grueling three-and-a-half-hour interview as a result of she needed to offer a clear, sincere have a look at the groundbreaking actuality present’s historical past, together with taking accountability for selections 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 foul man.
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“Tyra Banks participated within the Netflix documentary sequence America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin (‘ANTM’) as a result of she believed viewers deserved a candid dialog concerning the present’s legacy—its successes and its shortcomings,” the lawsuit begins. “There are features of the present for which Ms. Banks takes accountability and she or he needed ANTM viewers to listen to that from her instantly,” 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. Many years 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 digicam, 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 wanting up, Banks nodded affirmatively and explicitly said, “I do keep in mind her story.” By surgically reducing the nod and erasing her vocal affirmation, producers ensured viewers solely noticed a manufactured lie. Moreover, Banks notes she was fully unaware that Sullivan labeled 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 reality: throughout one particular cycle, a crew member reported a daily ANTM forged member for an inappropriate sample of sexual conduct.
In keeping with Banks, she instantly escalated the report back to the highest community executives. Manufacturing was promptly shut down, and your entire forged and crew have been compelled to bear necessary sexual harassment coaching carried out by an impartial outdoors professional. Banks’ lawsuit notes that the general public was denied the reality relating to Banks’ dedication to security because of the 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 discuss present.
The supermodel’s authorized crew alleged that producers fully 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 in depth 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 through the medical disaster.
Actually, the lawsuit notes the pair spent three subsequent years sending intimate voice notes, vacation messages, and images to 1 one other. As lately 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 revenue, 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 help for Banks.
“I believe that 80 % of [the docuseries] is extremely twisted,” Cutrone advised PEOPLE. “She’s performed rather a lot for folks, together with the people who find themselves on the market trashing her proper now… I consider that the information and the reality will come ahead.”
Cycle 8 winner Jaslene González equally expressed unwavering gratitude, stating that the platform fully reworked her life in a optimistic method. With main business allies backing her narrative, Banks is demanding a full jury trial to reveal the darkish modifying secrets and techniques behind trendy documentary storytelling.
What do you assume? Does Tyra have a leg to face on on this lawsuit?
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