Tyra Banks Sues Netflix: "Defamed by Malicious Editing"

Portrayed as Ignoring Sexual Assault Victim in Documentary
Seeks Punitive Damages and Requests Jury Trial

Former model and broadcaster Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming she was defamed by malicious editing in a documentary.

On June 14, Yonhap News reported this information, citing U.S. entertainment outlet Variety and NBC. The controversy centers on the Netflix documentary "Reality Check: The Dark Side of America's Next Top Model," which explores behind-the-scenes stories of the reality show "America's Next Top Model" (ANTM). Banks has filed a complaint in court, asserting that the documentary's producers edited the footage to make it appear as though she ignored a contestant's experience of sexual assault.

Model-turned-broadcaster Tyra Banks. The Asia Business Daily DB

The complaint alleges that the producers manipulated the footage to exploit the contestant's sexual assault for ratings and portrayed Banks as a cold-hearted person who could not even remember the incident. For example, in the documentary, Banks is shown looking into the air and saying, "Um..." when asked if she remembers the contestant's case, after which the screen fades to black.

This scene was edited in a way that made it seem Banks did not recall the incident. However, Banks' side claims that, upon reviewing the original footage, Banks clearly stated, "I remember that contestant's story." Banks maintains that she was aware of the contestant's story itself but did not know the individual had perceived it as sexual assault.

Banks' representatives criticized Netflix's editing as "complete fabrication," adding, "Netflix broadcast this to millions of viewers worldwide." They also stated that although Banks was interviewed by the documentary producers for three and a half hours, only 16 minutes of her interview appeared in the final documentary. As a result, Banks is seeking punitive damages and has requested a jury trial. Netflix declined to comment on the lawsuit.

ANTM is a popular reality show that aired over a 15-year span from 2003 to 2018. The show's format was later licensed in Korea and produced as the Korean version, "Korea's Next Top Model."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.