Tyra Banks, creator and former host of America's Next Top Model, has launched legal action against Netflix and the documentary's production team over allegations of defamation. The lawsuit, filed Saturday in Los Angeles federal court, names Netflix, directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy, and EverWonder Studio as defendants. Banks is seeking financial damages and an injunction preventing the use of her image in connection with the docuseries' accompanying soundtrack album.

According to court documents, Banks' legal team contends that filmmakers employed "selective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation" to construct a false narrative suggesting she permitted a contestant to experience sexual assault on set, exploited the participant's trauma for ratings, and deliberately avoided discussing the incident during interviews. The lawyers argue that footage showing Banks accepting responsibility was excluded from the final cut, preventing viewers from seeing the full picture.

Banks maintains she was unaware she would be questioned about a sexual assault during her interview sessions and was consequently unprepared to respond. Her attorneys allege she received only one day's notice before the February 16 release to view the completed series. Additionally, they claim Netflix refused to share her complete interview footage when requested in March and that other former judges—including one with whom Banks has a contentious relationship—served as consultants shaping the documentary's editorial approach.

The ANTM franchise, which launched in 2003 and ran for 24 seasons, has faced considerable scrutiny in recent years regarding body-shaming practices, contestant exploitation, and insensitive photoshoot themes. Banks previously acknowledged "the insensitivity of past ANTM moments" and "some really off choices," but her legal team argues the documentary misrepresents her engagement with these issues.

Since the docuseries' debut, Banks has experienced significant public backlash. The lawsuit notes that even her ice cream business, SMiZE & DREAM in Sydney, Australia, endured review bombing on Google. Her lawyers emphasize that Banks attempted to resolve matters directly with Netflix and the producers before resorting to litigation, but those efforts were unsuccessful.