"Made Her a Sexual Violence Abuser" Tyra Banks Sues Netflix

Was it "The Devil’s Edit"—or hidden truth? Tyra Banks brings a knife to Netflix

Tyra Banks, a global fashion icon and television host, has declared all-out war against the streaming giant Netflix. Banks has filed a defamation lawsuit, saying a recently aired documentary program thoroughly deceived her and maliciously edited her, setting off a major ripple across the global entertainment industry.

According to a deep-dive report by U.S. entertainment outlet Variety and NBC on the 13th (local time), the case stems from Netflix’s documentary "Reality Check: Challenge! Supermodels and What Lies Beneath". Banks’ side strongly condemned the production team, arguing that it manipulated the screen in a crafty way to make it appear that she had tolerated and neglected a participant’s sexual violence victimization that came up during the filming of "America’s Next Top Model (ANTM)", which previously sparked a worldwide frenzy.

"A Perfect Fabrication for Ratings"... The truth after 3 1/2 hours gets shattered into 16 minutes

What is laid out in the filing is shocking. The production team, the document says, used the participant’s painful wounds as tools to build an attention-grabbing storyline. In particular, controversy centers on a scene in which Banks is portrayed as a cold figure who looks into empty space and stays silent when asked about the incident. Banks’ side said the staging, which heightened suspicions by fading the screen to black, was proven wrong because, based on the original video, she had answered firmly, "I clearly remember that participant’s story."

Banks further explained that she was aware of the participant’s tragic situation at the time, but she had no idea that the participant was describing it as "sexual assault". Calling Netflix’s editing approach a "complete fabrication", Banks said she could not hide her anger, saying, "Out of 3 1/2 hours of in-depth interviews, they only clipped together 16 minutes in a sensational way and spread false facts to millions of viewers around the world."

Punitive damages and a jury trial... The good and bad of a reality show on the edge

At present, Banks’ side has made clear that she will not back down, demanding a "jury trial" while also seeking "punitive damages" beyond a simple apology. Meanwhile, the "Netflix" side, which has been sued, has kept completely silent in response to a flood of requests from the media for commentary, setting up a fierce courtroom battle between the two sides.

A legendary reality show that captivated viewers worldwide from 2003 to 2018 and also produced a spin-off in South Korea called "Challenge! Supermodel Korea". As the dark side that was hidden behind the dazzling runway and the media’s ethical responsibilities are put on trial, public attention now has turned to the courtroom.