LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and the directors of its docuseries 鈥淩eality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model,鈥� alleging that the producers stripped down hours of interview footage to construct a false narrative.
In the lawsuit filed Saturday in Los Angeles federal court, the model who created and hosted 鈥淎merica’s Next Top Model鈥� said she was interviewed for 3 陆 hours, during which she took responsibility for some of the show’s controversial decisions. Those interviews were edited down to 16 minutes and manipulated 鈥渢o support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed,鈥� the lawsuit said.
鈥淭he accountability Ms. Banks took ended up on the cutting room floor. It was there, but viewers were never given the opportunity to see it,鈥� her lawyers wrote.
Banks is seeking damages in her lawsuit against Netflix, the directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy and EverWonder Studio. She鈥檚 also seeking an injunction barring the use of her image in connection with the docuseries鈥� soundtrack, released as an album.
Emails seeking comments were sent Sunday to the defendants鈥� representatives.
鈥淎merica’s Next Top Model鈥� launched in 2003 and ran for 24 seasons. In recent years, has undergone a critical reevaluation over accusations of body shaming, manipulation of contestants and problematic photoshoots. Banks has previously addressed acknowledging 鈥渢he insensitivity of past ANTM moments鈥� and 鈥渟ome really off choices.鈥�
The lawsuit contends that the producers of the Netflix docuseries used 鈥渟elective editing, deliberate omission, and surgical manipulation of continuous footage鈥� to formulate a narrative that Banks allowed a contestant to be sexually assaulted on the show, used the contestant’s trauma to drum up ratings and then couldn’t remember it when asked during the interviews.
鈥淒efendants edited the Netflix Series to make it appear that Ms. Banks knew she was being asked about a sexual assault and was intentionally trying to evade the topic,鈥� the lawsuit stated, contending that Banks hadn’t been told 鈥� or asked 鈥� about the assault during the interview.
Banks’ lawyers wrote that she wasn’t permitted to review the docuseries until a day before its Feb. 16 release. According to the lawsuit, she had not been contacted for fact-checking after her interviews, and was not given an opportunity to respond to accusations from other participants. Other judges from the show, including one her lawyers contend holds a grudge against Banks, consulted on the docuseries.
鈥淗ad Ms. Banks known these individuals were so deeply involved in the formulation of the Netflix Series, also serving as consultants shaping the editorial direction, and that she had been excluded from such a role, it would have raised a red flag,鈥� the lawsuit read. 鈥淪he would have known she was being set up. She would not have participated.鈥�
Banks’ lawyers reached out to Netflix in March to request access to the full footage of her interviews. Netflix and EverWonder denied that request, according to the lawsuit. Since the docuseries’ release, public reaction has been 鈥渟wift, harsh, and directed squarely at Ms. Banks鈥� 鈥� even SMiZE & DREAM, her ice cream shop in Sydney, Australia, has been subject to review bombing on Google, the lawsuit read.
The Associated Press sent an email seeking further detail from Banks鈥� lawyers and representatives on Sunday.
鈥淓very other conversation about ANTM鈥檚 legacy 鈥� including the candid reflection Ms. Banks came prepared to have 鈥� is now drowned out by an accusation she was never given the chance to answer,鈥� her lawyers wrote. 鈥淭his lawsuit is that answer 鈥� particularly after her efforts to resolve the matter directly with Netflix and the producers were refused.鈥�
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