Tyra Banks sues Netflix, claims documentary portrayed her as complicit in contestant sexual assault

The lawsuit

Tyra Banks has taken legal action against Netflix, alleging the streaming service defamed her in the three-part docuseries Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model (released February 2026). The suit, submitted on 13 June, claims producers selectively edited a lengthy interview to construct a false and damaging portrayal of the former host.

Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix documentary series America's Next Top Model ('ANTM') because she believed viewers deserved a candid conversation about the show's legacy — its successes and its shortcomings.

Editing manipulation

Banks sat for an interview lasting between three and a half and four hours, yet only 16 minutes made the final cut. According to the legal filing, the footage was "stripped of context and reassembled to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed." The suit argues that moments where Banks took accountability, including for controversial aspects of the show, were deliberately omitted.

Sexual assault allegation

A central charge is that the documentary implied Banks knowingly allowed a contestant (Shandi Sullivan, Season Two) to be sexually assaulted during production and then exploited the incident for ratings, a claim the lawsuit calls "a complete fabrication." Sullivan, whose cheating storyline was a focal point on the show, now describes the encounter as assault and has criticised Banks for not accepting responsibility.

How do you treat people as cash cow[s] instead of humans? It's messed up, no matter what year it is.

Damages sought

Banks is seeking damages for financial losses (including prospective lost earnings tied to the litigation) and reputational harm, with the amount to be determined by a court. She has also requested a jury trial. Netflix and the involved production companies have not yet publicly responded.