Tyra Banks sued Netflix for defamation, and it all stemmed from the streamer’s documentary about America’s Next Top Model. The documentary, titled Reality Checked: Inside America’s Next Top Model, featured interviews with Tyra. According to Tyra’s lawsuit, she accused Netflix of heavily editing her on-camera comments. Now a former ANTM contestant and attorney is weighing in.
Former ANTM contestant, now attorney, Kayla Ferrel Onder talks about the “ironic” lawsuit
Kayla Ferrell Onderwho competed on seasons 15 and 17 of ANTM weighed in on Tyra’s trial. She has recovered over $1 billion for survivors of sexual abuse through her legal work.
In her trialTyra is suing Netflix, directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy along with EverWonder Studio, the production company. According to Tyra, a “false narrative” was created about her through “selective editing, deliberate omission and surgical manipulation of continuous footage.” In addition, Tyra claimed that the way her reaction to the participant Shandi Sullivan’s The alleged sexual assault in 2023 depicted was particularly damaging.
“Obviously she’s suing for defamation and false contract claims. She’s trying to do damage control on her reputation,” Kayla shared Weekly entertainment. She added that it will be an “extremely challenging” case for the supermodel to win.
Kayla continued, “She’s famous — everybody knows who she is. So they have a higher burden when you’re a public figure. You have to show real malice, and I think that’s going to be really, really difficult from a legal perspective.”
Meanwhile, Kayla referenced the contestant’s contracts for ANTM. “Tyra Banks is a lawyer from day one. She had contracts in place, she had a team in place,” Kayla explained. “I find it ironic. I think she’s learning what we’ve all learned,” she added.
However, despite the backlash to the controversial documentaryTyra is appears in season 22 of Project Runway.
Project Runway Season 22 premieres on Freeform on July 9. You can stream episodes the next day on Disney+.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK TYRA WILL WIN HER DEFAMATION SUIT? WILL YOU SEE REALITY CHECKED: INSIDE AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL?
