Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging she was defamed in a 2026 documentary about America’s Next Top Model (ANTM).
The lawsuit states Banks sat for a three-and-a-half hour interview, but only 16 minutes of footage was used in the final series.
She alleges the documentary’s producers manipulated that footage to falsely imply she knew a contestant had been sexually assaulted and helped cover it up.
Here’s what you need to know.
Context
Banks created and hosted ANTM, a reality competition show that aired from 2003 to 2018.
In February 2026, Netflix released ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’. The three-part documentary examined the show’s legacy, including allegations of bullying, body shaming, and racism.
In her legal filing, Banks said she agreed to be interviewed because she “takes accountability” and she wanted ANTM viewers to hear that from her directly.
The Netflix series featured interviews with Banks, ANTM contestants, and former judges Jay Manuel, Miss J. Alexander, and Nigel Barker.
Banks alleges the three judges conceived the idea for the Netflix series and had “editorial influence” over the final product.
The series details the experience of contestant Shandi Sullivan during filming in Milan in 2003.
Sullivan said production encouraged her and fellow contestants to have dinner and drinks with male models they had filmed with that day. While cameras were rolling, Sullivan said she drank two bottles of wine after little food and sleep.
Cameras then captured Sullivan getting into a hot tub, a shower, and then bed with one of the male models.
In the documentary, Sullivan says:
“I just remember, like, little bits and pieces. I remember being in the shower, and then just sitting in the shower, and then we were in the bed.
“I was blacked out for a lot of it. I didn’t even feel sex happening, I just knew it was happening, and then I passed out.”
The documentary does not show Sullivan explicitly saying the words “sexual assault”.
Banks’ lawsuit says Sullivan told the documentary producers “she had come to view the events in Milan as a sexual assault.”
Banks alleges the producers “purposefully withheld that information” from her when they asked her about it.
At the end of the documentary’s first episode, Banks is asked: “You remember the story with Shandi?”
Banks glances upward, says “um,” and then the screen cuts to black.
Lawsuit
Last week, Banks filed a claim against Netflix, production company EverWonder Studio, Netflix Music and the documentary’s two directors.
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It includes five legal claims:
- Defamation by implication (1): Banks alleges the first episode ended on a cliffhanger implying she had forgotten about a sexual assault that occurred during filming.
- False light: Banks alleges the documentary falsely implied she knew Sullivan had been sexually assaulted, failed to intervene, and later could not remember it.
- Defamation by implication (2): The second episode allegedly implied Banks had real-time knowledge of an assault, manipulated the victim into a confession, and later concealed it through editing.
- Breach of contract: EverWonder violated their agreement by editing her footage in a defamatory way.
- False endorsement: Netflix used Banks’ image on the documentary’s soundtrack album cover without her knowledge or permission, falsely implying her endorsement.
Evidence
As part of her filing, Banks provided a variety of evidence she says supports her claims. (They have not yet been tested in court.)
For example, she pointed to a 2020 Twitter post, which she says proves her record of publicly taking accountability for ANTM’s shortcomings.
The legal claim went on to say that Banks has suffered “significant harm and damage to the personal brand she has worked for decades to build and maintain throughout the world.” It includes the following examples:
Banks also alleges executive producer Jon Adler violated her trust, having emailed her to say her testimony “will do the story justice in a way no one else could.”
What’s next?
Netflix and the named producers now need to formally respond to the complaint in court.
Banks has requested a jury trial, meaning if the case proceeds, it would be heard by a jury rather than a judge alone. No hearing dates have been set.
She is suing for financial damages, and wants Netflix to pull her image off the soundtrack album cover everywhere it appears.
Netflix did not respond to a request for comment before this story was published.
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