Tyra Banks is demanding $50K from a former landlord over a dispute about her ice cream brand. The America’s Next Top Model host is the founder of Smize & Dream, which describes itself as “ice cream meets entertainment.”
The ANTM documentary has sparked fierce backlash against Tyra Banks
In court documents seen by TMZ, Tyra is demanding $50k in sanctions from a former landlord who sued her over a Washington DC property. Back in October 2025, building owner Christopher Powell sued Tyra and her business partner and boyfriend, Louis Bélanger-Martin. He claimed the pair had agreed to open the flagship store of their ice cream parlour in one of his buildings, signing a 10-year lease for the location in April 2024.
According to the claimant, he spent thousands to fix the space, and even turned down other prospective renters. He added that Tyra abandoned the Washington DC location in June 2024 and refused to pay rent. Instead, the former model opened her store in Sydney, Australia, where she now lives.
Christopher’s lawsuit says Tyra “weaponized” her celebrity influence to deter him from suing her. He demanded an excess of $2.8 million in damages. Tyra has always denied any wrongdoing, and argued that she terminated the lease for valid reasons. She says the landlord later demanded $2.9 million in a move she called a “celebrity shakedown.”
In December, the landlord voluntarily dismissed his case against Tyra. But now she is seeking payback for having to defend herself in the first place.
Beyond her ice cream court case, Tyra has found herself facing backlash of late due to her appearance in a Netflix exposé of ANTM. Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model investigates the rise and fall of the reality TV series, as well as the impact it had on the contestants, judges, and viewers.
TELL US – DID YOU KNOW TYRA BANKS HAD AN ICE CREAM BRAND?
