Angelea Preston, who competed on Cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model
before returning and winning Cycle 17, has filed a lawsuit against
Tyra Banks and The CW, Entertainment Weekly reports.
Preston is suing for the following reasons:
1) She never received her grand prize because she was disqualified for
previously having been an escort. (The finale was reportedly reshot
after Preston was disqualified and instead Lisa D'Amato was named the
Cycle 17 winner.)
2) Breach of oral agreement
3) Breach of written contract
4) Intentional infliction of emotional distress
5) Negligent infliction of emotional distress, because she claims the
show withheld medical treatment for at least 10 minutes when she had
an anxiety attack to make for better TV.
6) Failure to pay minimum wage, and overtime wages.
7) Failure to provide meal and rest breaks.
8) Unfair business practices, citing working conditions for the show's
contestants.
She is suing for damages on all eight accounts and says she believes
she is owed at least $3 million.
The CW issued the following statement in response to Preston's suit:
"As noted during the broadcast of the America's Next Top Model finale
in 2011, information about Angelea was learned after production
wrapped on that cycle that led to her disqualification from the
competition. We are confident that her lawsuit has no merit."
(Yahoo News)
