Tyra Banks is suing Netflix and the makers of its docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model.
Banks has filed a lawsuit against the streaming giants and the series, claiming that the producers used selective editing to create a false narrative about her. The model filed this lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court on Saturday against Netflix, as well as directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan and EverWonder Studio.
In the lawsuit, Banks has claimed that she was interviewed for three and a half hours for the series, but the footage was later reduced to 16 minutes and was edited in a way which misconstrued what she said.
It also states that Banks, who created and hosted America's Next Top Model, has accepted responsibility during her interview for some of the reality show's controversial moments, but insisted that these comments were not included in the final edit.
Banks' lawyers have said in the lawsuit: "The accountability Ms Banks took ended up on the cutting room floor. It was there, but viewers were never given the opportunity to see it".
The model is also seeking damages and has asked for an injunction preventing the use of her image in connection with the docuseries' soundtrack, which was also released as an album.
It has also alleged that the docuseries used "selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage" which suggests that Banks had allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted while on the show, as well as used the contestant's trauma to gain ratings, and later failed to remember the incident when asked about it during her interview.
Her legal team have insisted that she was not informed or asked about the alleged assault during this interview.
The lawsuit also alleges that Banks' lawyers had contacted Netflix in March about gaining access to the full footage of her interviews, which was denied by both Netflix and EverWonder. It also claims that Banks was not allowed to review the docuseries until the day before its release on February 16, stating that she was not contacted for fact-checking after her interview or allowed to to respond to accusations made by other contestants.
In that documentary, Banks could be heard admitting she "went too far" after shouting at model, Tiffany Richardson during season four. More on this here.
Banks' lawyers have told the Press Association that the public response to this docuseries has been "swift, harsh and directed squarely at Ms Banks".
"Every other conversation about ANTM’s legacy, including the candid reflection Ms Banks came prepared to have, is now drowned out by an accusation she was never given the chance to answer," her lawyers added. "This lawsuit is that answer, particularly after her efforts to resolve the matter directly with Netflix and the producers were refused".
Netflix have declined to comment on these claims, according to reports. At the time of writing, representatives for other defendants were contacted by the media for comment.
Launched in 2003, America's Next Top Model has run for 24 cycles. But in recent years, the series has been heavily criticised for body shaming, as well as how the show treats its contestants and controversial photoshoots, which as forced it to be re-evaluated.
