Streaming giant Netflix has officially filed a motion asking a Los Angeles judge to throw out Tyra Banks’ defamation lawsuit. The legal battle stems from the three-part docuseries Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which explored the behind-the-scenes culture of the long-running reality franchise.
Banks originally sued the streamer and directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan in June, alleging that selective editing from her three-hour interview falsely depicted her as insensitive toward a contestant’s past trauma. However, in court documents obtained Friday, Netflix argued that Banks signed a appearance release and simply disagrees with the final edit. The Netflix Tyra Banks defamation lawsuit motion to dismiss docuseries filing pointedly noted that as an executive producer of 24 seasons of ANTM, Banks made the exact same kind of editorial cuts throughout her own career.
“Banks understands editorial discretion. She created, hosted and executive produced 24 seasons of ‘ANTM,’ making the same kinds of editorial decisions she now attacks.” — Netflix Legal Motion
Netflix maintained that its creators fairly represented Banks’ perspective alongside other participants, emphasizing that a subject’s request for more favorable airtime does not make a documentary defamatory. A judge is expected to rule on the motion to dismiss in the coming weeks.
