Tyra Banks accused of 'humiliating' girl on America's Next Top Model

An America's Got Talent contestant is suing Tyra Banks for battery and assault, claiming the supermodel humiliated her daughter at a taping of the show.

The contestant (named Jane Doe in the suit) performed a song with her husband about their daughter (identified as Mary in the suit).

According to Variety, she claims they were "humiliated" by the judges and the audience, and says Banks added to the humiliation by making fun of the song in front of Mary.

She alleges Banks pulled her daughter's hair back, physically manipulated her, and insinuated Mary was conceived by accident.

"Mary was traumatised and became deeply depressed," the suit states.

"Mary would become extremely nervous and anxious whenever, among other triggering events, she hears any mentions of [the] song and [the] song itself, whenever she ruminates about the events during or related to the performance, and whenever she thinks about the prospective televised airing or use online of Jane and her husband, their performance, as well as the airing and use online of any footage of Mary."

The suit alleges the production company got Mary to sign a contract without her parents' knowledge or consent, and is claiming damages for infliction of emotional distress.

• This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.