Tyra Banks files defamation lawsuit against Netflix

Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming she was unfairly portrayed in the documentary series Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model.

The lawsuit was filed on June 13, in which Banks says the documentary damaged her reputation and edited her interview in a misleading way. She is now asking for a jury trial and financial compensation.

Court documents say Banks agreed to take part in the documentary because she wanted to openly discuss the legacy of America's Next Top Model, including both its successes and mistakes, per People.

The lawsuit says Banks answered all questions during a three-and-a-half-hour interview and was willing to discuss criticism of the show and decisions she would handle differently today. However, Banks claims only 16 minutes of the interview were used in the final documentary.

She alleges that her comments were taken out of context and edited to create a false impression of what she actually said.

The lawsuit also claims that parts where she accepted responsibility for some controversial moments on the show were removed.

Banks argues that the documentary wrongly suggested she knowingly allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted, used the contestant's trauma for ratings, and later failed to remember the incident. She says these claims are completely false.

The lawsuit further challenges comments made by documentary director and executive producer Mor Loushy. Banks says viewers were told she had the chance to fully explain her side of the story, but she believes the documentary did not accurately present her responses.

According to the lawsuit, Banks did speak honestly during the interview, but producers chose not to include important parts of her answers.

America's Next Top Model first aired in 2003, with Banks serving as host for its first 22 seasons.

The Netflix documentary revisits the history of the show and examines several controversial moments from its run, including issues that have drawn criticism in recent years.