Tyra Banks is no longer staying silent: The secrets behind the “America’s Next Top Model” documentary that led her to sue Netflix.

Tyra Banks is taking legal action against Netflix, claiming that she was manipulated into participating in the streamer’s documentary series “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” and that the final production created what she describes as a false and defamatory portrayal of her role in the history of “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM).

According to the lawsuit, Banks agreed to take part in the documentary because she believed viewers deserved an honest conversation about the legacy of the modeling competition show, including both its achievements and the criticisms it has faced over the years. The former supermodel said she wanted audiences to hear directly from her about the decisions made during the show’s long run and the ways she has reflected on them.

“Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix documentary series ‘America’s Next Top Model’ (‘ANTM’) because she believed viewers deserved a candid conversation about the show’s legacy—its successes and its shortcomings,” the lawsuit stated. “There are aspects of the show for which Ms. Banks takes accountability and she wanted ANTM viewers to hear that from her directly.”

Banks claims she entered the interview without restrictions and allowed producers to ask about any subject connected to the show. During a three-and-a-half-hour conversation, she reportedly discussed the cultural impact of ANTM, its groundbreaking moments, and the controversies surrounding some of the decisions made throughout the series.

However, Banks alleges that only around 16 minutes of that interview appeared in the final documentary and that the selected clips were taken out of context. The lawsuit claims that the footage was “stripped of context and reassembled to support a false and defamatory narrative unrelated to what she actually expressed.”

The former model argues that viewers approached the series believing they were watching a documentary based on facts and honest reflection, rather than a production shaped around dramatic storytelling. The lawsuit stated that Netflix presented the project as “the definitive, must-watch chronicle of ‘America’s Next Top Model,’” and argued that the documentary format created expectations of accuracy and fairness.

The legal dispute comes years after ANTM became one of the most recognizable reality competition shows in television history. Created by Banks in 2003, the series introduced audiences to the world of fashion modeling while combining competition, personal drama, and behind-the-scenes challenges. The show ran for 24 cycles and helped launch the careers of several contestants while turning Banks into one of the most influential figures in entertainment.

Throughout its run, ANTM also faced criticism over certain challenges, judging decisions, and storylines that some viewers later considered problematic. In recent years, former contestants and fans have revisited moments from the series through a more critical lens, questioning whether some situations reflected outdated attitudes within the fashion and entertainment industries.

Banks has previously acknowledged that some aspects of the show would be handled differently today. In the documentary, she reportedly took responsibility for certain controversial moments and discussed the evolution of her perspective over time. However, she now claims that the final edit focused on creating a damaging image of her rather than presenting a balanced discussion.

One of the most serious issues addressed in the lawsuit involves former contestant Shandi Sullivan’s experience during Cycle 2 of ANTM. In the documentary, Sullivan discussed an incident that occurred while contestants were staying in Italy. She claimed she was sexually assaulted by a male model during the trip and said she was not fully aware of what was happening at the time.

The original reality show had presented the situation primarily as a relationship scandal because Sullivan had a boyfriend during the competition. Years later, the discussion around the incident changed as viewers revisited the circumstances and considered Sullivan’s account from a different perspective.

Banks claims the documentary created a misleading impression that she knowingly allowed a contestant to be harmed, exploited the situation for ratings, and later failed to remember it. Her lawsuit describes that portrayal as “a complete fabrication” and argues that selective editing contributed to a false narrative being shown to millions of viewers.

The lawsuit also addresses another controversy involving allegations of inappropriate behavior by a member of the ANTM production environment. Banks argues that the documentary ignored her actions behind the scenes, claiming that when concerns were brought to her attention, she responded immediately and took steps to address the situation.

According to the legal filing, Banks said she informed other executives about the report and ensured the matter was escalated. The lawsuit states that production was paused so the cast and crew could participate in sexual harassment training conducted by an outside expert.

Beyond the legal battle, the controversy has placed renewed attention on Banks’ complicated relationship with her own legacy. For decades, she has been celebrated as a pioneer who broke barriers in modeling and entertainment, becoming one of the first Black women to achieve major success on international fashion runways.

Born in California, Banks began modeling as a teenager and quickly became one of the most recognizable faces in the industry. She appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines, worked with some of the biggest designers in the world, and became one of the few models to successfully transition from fashion into television and business.

Her influence expanded beyond modeling when she launched ANTM, creating a platform that introduced millions of viewers to the fashion industry. The show became a cultural phenomenon, producing memorable television moments and helping establish the reality competition format that would dominate entertainment in the following years.

Banks later expanded her career into hosting and producing, including her long-running talk show “The Tyra Banks Show,” which earned multiple awards. She also became a businesswoman, developing projects outside television and continuing to build her brand beyond modeling.

Despite her achievements, Banks’ career has often been accompanied by public debate. As ANTM gained popularity, some viewers praised its creativity and opportunities for aspiring models, while others criticized certain choices made by the show. The current lawsuit reflects the ongoing conversation about how public figures are remembered and how entertainment history is documented.

In her personal life, Banks has generally kept a more private image compared with many celebrities of her level. She welcomed her son York through surrogacy in 2016 and has spoken about motherhood as one of the most meaningful parts of her life.

The Netflix lawsuit represents another major chapter in Banks’ decades-long career, one that places her not only as the creator of a famous television franchise but also as someone defending how her story and decisions are represented publicly.

Banks is seeking a jury trial to determine what damages she may receive. Netflix has not publicly responded to the allegations, and the legal process remains ongoing.

As the entertainment industry continues to revisit the history of reality television, the dispute between Tyra Banks and Netflix raises broader questions about storytelling, accountability, editing, and the responsibility of documentaries to present complex figures with accuracy rather than simply creating controversy.