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Tyra Banks transformed herself from a supermodel into a TV power player and entrepreneur. However, recently, she landed herself in a legal mess over an allegedly abandoned lease in Washington, D.C. Read on for more details about the former host of Dancing with the Stars.
Breach Of Contract Lawsuit
In a breach of contract suit that demands $2.8 million, a landlord from Washington, D.C., sued Banks over her ice cream brand, Smize and Dream, per Entertainment Weekly. The suit was filed in October but only just hit the headlines. Apparently, the disagreement was about a lease for a commercial venture that was to be the brand’s new home.
The lawsuit said that Banks signed a ten-year lease in April 2024. However, according to the landlord, Christopher Powell, the agreement that involved Banks idea of an ice cream business didn’t take off in DC. Additionally, it was planned that it would also serve a function in support of less fortunate children.
Jilted By The TV Star
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Powell claimed that Tyra Banks told him the School of SMiZE ice cream shop would be the brand’s first store. With that kind of assurance, Powell rented out the building to them “as is.” After that, came the jilt. Powell said that in June 2024, Banks and her team left the premises all of a sudden and without any notification.
Then, they allegedly ceased the payment of rent. In the lawsuit, it’s alleged that Banks took the Smize and Dream store to Australia. Powell, in his complaint, also said she held a pop-up event for her new ice cream concept, but not at his property.
Negotiations Failed
Allegedly, Powell said he tried to talk it over face to face with Banks before things got out of hand. Instead, he says he got a letter in which his building was accused of being in extremely poor condition.
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Naturally, he refuted that, claiming that the allegations were totally untrue and their only purpose was to frighten him into giving up.
No Comment From Tyra
After failing to negotiate, the complainant demanded a payment of $2,831,331. Besides that, he demanded late fees, interest, attorney’s fees, and expenses related to the abandoned lease.
Tyra Banks hasn’t commented in a public statement. But, in the meantime, her lawyer sent a motion to the court asking for the case to be dismissed.
Banks kept on advertising Smize and Dream while the court case was pending. For the moment, the lawsuit is still ongoing.
Previous Lawsuits
Notably, this isn’t the first time that Tyra was sued. You might recall that she was sued in 2014 by a former America’s Next Top Model contestant. And later, she was involved in a lawsuit by an America’s Got Talent contestant alleging emotional distress during an audition.
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