Tyra Banks filed a 65-page lawsuit on June 13 against Netflix, Everwonder Studio, and directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan over their three-part documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model released in February 2026 [1, 2].
The documentary featured interviews with Banks, her collaborators including Jay Manuel and J. Alexander, and at least 10 contestants. Banks' lawsuit alleges the producers selectively edited only 16 minutes from her original 3.5-hour interview to create a false and defamatory narrative that distorts her words [1, 3, 2].
Banks' legal team said, "Of the hours of answers Ms. Banks provided, the producers used only about sixteen minutes. The producers used what could be stripped of context and reassembled to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed" [1].
The suit claims the editing excluded Banks taking responsibility for controversies and manipulated contestant Shandi Sullivan’s sexual assault allegation account. Banks also says producers denied her requests for unedited footage and a chance to respond to allegations prior to release [1, 2].
Banks argues the documentary's portrayal damaged her personal brand and business ventures, including her SMiZE & DREAM ice cream brand, following the documentary's February release [2].
She seeks damages and demands removal of her image from the documentary's soundtrack cover [1].
Banks hosted America's Next Top Model for 23 of its 24 seasons [3].
Netflix has declined to comment publicly on the lawsuit as of now [1, 3, 2].
The documentary’s February 2026 release and the lawsuit filing in June mark the latest steps in a legal dispute over how Banks and the franchise’s legacy are portrayed on the streaming platform.
