Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix today, June 13, 2026, alleging that the streaming giant and the producers of the documentary series Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model defamed her through selective editing and misleading storytelling.
The lawsuit claims the three-part documentary misrepresented Banks’ participation and created what her legal team describes as a “false and defamatory narrative” about her role on the long-running reality competition series. America’s Next Top Model (ANTM).
According to court documents obtained by People, Banks sat for a three-and-a-half-hour interview for the project, but claims that only about 16 minutes of that conversation ultimately appeared in the final series. She claims that key parts where she took responsibility for controversial moments from ANTM were left out.
“Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix docu-series because she believed viewers deserved an honest conversation about the show’s legacy — its successes and its shortcomings,” the lawsuit states. “There are aspects of the show that Ms. Banks takes responsibility for.”
The complaint alleges that producers removed context from her interview responses and rearranged footage in a way that portrayed her negatively. Banks specifically objects to how the documentary handled allegations involving former contestant Shandi Sullivan, arguing that the series falsely implied she was indifferent to or ignorant of Sullivan’s experiences.
“The meaning is devastating and deliberate,” the lawsuit states, according to court documents first released by People. Banks claims that footage showing her acknowledging and remembering Sullivan’s story was edited out of the final version.
The lawsuit also disputes the documentary’s portrayal of Banks’ relationship with former ANTM judge and runway coach J. Alexander, known to fans as Miss J. Banks, alleging that producers omitted evidence of years of communication between the two following health problems Alexander experienced, creating a misleading impression that she had ignored him.
In addition, Banks claims that the documentary did not accurately represent actions she took when concerns about alleged inappropriate behavior by a cast member were raised during the show’s production. According to the lawsuit, she immediately escalated reports to managers and supported sexual harassment training for cast and crew.
The documentary, released by Netflix in February, echoed the cultural impact and controversy surrounding it America’s Next Top Modelfeaturing interviews with former contestants, judges, producers and Banks himself. Netflix promoted the project as a definitive examination of the series’ legacy.
Banks is seeking a jury trial and damages for alleged reputational damage, emotional distress, lost business opportunities and related financial losses.
