Tyra Banks is pursuing more than $50,000 in sanctions against a former business partner and Washington, D.C. landlord in a heated legal battle stemming from the collapse of her ice cream brand venture, accusing him of orchestrating a “celebrity shakedown” to extract money from her fame.
Court documents filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia reveal that the supermodel-turned-entrepreneur and television personality is seeking the penalties as part of ongoing litigation tied to her now-defunct ice cream business, SMiZe & Dream. The sanctions motion accuses the defendant—identified in filings as a D.C.-based landlord and ex-partner in the brand—of bad-faith conduct, including frivolous filings, delay tactics, and attempts to leverage Banks' celebrity status for financial gain.
According to the motion, the dispute originated from a commercial lease agreement for a retail space intended to house one of SMiZe & Dream's ice cream shops. Banks alleges that after the business encountered operational and financial difficulties—leading to the closure of several locations—the landlord refused reasonable negotiations to terminate or modify the lease, instead demanding exorbitant payments and threatening prolonged litigation unless Banks personally intervened or paid above-market sums.
The filing describes the landlord's actions as a calculated “celebrity shakedown,” claiming he deliberately targeted Banks because of her high public profile, hoping she would settle quickly to avoid negative publicity or prolonged court battles. Banks' legal team argues that this conduct violates court rules against vexatious litigation and warrants monetary sanctions to deter similar behavior and compensate for the costs incurred in defending against allegedly meritless claims.
In the sanctions request, Banks is asking the court to award more than $50,000 to cover attorneys' fees, court costs, and other expenses directly attributable to what her lawyers call the defendant's “abusive and harassing litigation tactics.” The motion also seeks a finding of bad faith to potentially support further remedies, including dismissal of any remaining counterclaims or cross-claims filed by the landlord.
Representatives for the defendant have not yet publicly responded to the sanctions motion, though prior court filings from his side have denied wrongdoing, asserting that the lease disputes were legitimate commercial disagreements and that Banks' team failed to meet contractual obligations. The landlord has maintained that the case is a standard landlord-tenant matter escalated by the celebrity status of the tenant.
SMiZe & Dream, launched by Banks in 2020 as a plant-based, health-focused ice cream and dessert brand, expanded rapidly during the pandemic with multiple brick-and-mortar locations and online sales. However, like many pandemic-era ventures, it faced challenges from rising costs, supply chain issues, and shifting consumer demand, leading to store closures and the eventual wind-down of much of the physical retail footprint.
The legal battle is one of several high-profile disputes Banks has navigated in recent years as she transitioned from modeling and television hosting (including America's Next Top Model and America's Got Talent) to entrepreneurship and brand-building. Sources close to the case indicate the sanctions motion is part of a broader strategy to resolve the litigation decisively and deter what Banks' team views as opportunistic claims against public figures.
No hearing date for the sanctions request has been publicly scheduled as of February 24, 2026, but the filing adds another layer of intensity to what was initially framed as a routine commercial lease disagreement. Observers in the entertainment and legal communities are watching closely, as the outcome could set precedent for how courts handle allegations of “celebrity shakedowns” in business disputes.
Neither Banks nor her representatives have commented publicly beyond the court documents. The case remains active, with further motions and responses expected in the coming weeks.
