Netflix moves to dismiss Tyra Banks' defamation lawsuit

Netflix is fighting back against Tyra Banks' defamation lawsuit, filing a motion to dismiss the case. Banks, the former host of "America's Next Top Model," sued Netflix in June, claiming her appearance in the documentary "The Cruelest Reality: Inside America's Next Top Model" was edited to create a false narrative.

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After the interview, [Banks] signed an agreement that granted the filmmakers the right to edit the interview material, acknowledging that she had 'no right to review or approve' the final documentary and waiving any claims arising from it, including those for defamation and misrepresentation.

The streaming giant argues that Banks signed an agreement allowing filmmakers to edit her interview footage. This agreement, Netflix states, explicitly acknowledged she had no right to review or approve the final product and waived any claims, including defamation.

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If we strip away the rhetoric of the lawsuit about 'manipulation' and 'surgical editing,' Banks' theory boils down to a request for more screen time and editing to her liking.

According to Netflix, Banks' lawsuit is not based on false statements but on her desire for more screen time and editorial control. The company's motion asserts that defamation law does not support such claims and courts do not scrutinize editorial decisions based on an interviewee's preference.

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It is not about Tyra being 'unhappy' with the editing, nor that she wants creative control. It is about whether viewers received a faithful representation of her words and the facts.

Banks' legal team countered, stating the issue is not about creative control but whether viewers received a faithful representation of her words and the facts. They challenged Netflix to release the unedited interview footage for public comparison.

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Netflix has Tyra's full, unedited interview. If Netflix stands by the veracity of its documentary, it should release the entire interview and let the viewers judge for themselves.