AGT sued by contestant claiming in court complaint Tyra Banks ‘physically manipulated’ daughter

A WOMAN who auditioned for AGT claims in a court document she was “humiliated” by Tyra Banks and alleges the model “physically manipulated” her daughter.

A WOMAN who auditioned for the forthcoming season of America’s Got Talent has filed a court complaint alleging she was “publicly humiliated” by the show’s host Tyra Banks and that the supermodel “physically manipulated” her daughter.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the suit filed overnight in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is suing Marathon Productions — the production company behind the talent show — for her daughter’s alleged abuse at the hands of Banks.

The lawsuit claims the incident occurred when Doe — a self described singer-songwriter — auditioned with her husband during a March 19 taping of the show in Los Angeles.

They performed an original song about motherhood which celebrates the birth of their daughter — named Mary Doe in the suit.

Prior to this taping, Doe says she and her husband took part in several preliminary auditions for series executives. During these tests, Doe alleges executives showed interest in this particular song about their daughter and asked what the child’s thoughts are about the song.

Doe says executives asked the couple to audition with the song at the LA taping and to bring their daughter with them.

It’s during this taping that Doe says the excitement of the experienced soured.

In the suit, she alleges she and her husband were “publicly humiliated by the panel of judges” as well as by a number of audience members.

The contestant claims Tyra Banks ‘physically manipulated and verbally abused’ her daughter.

Doe also alleges that production staff instructed their daughter Mary “to act embarrassed and annoyed by her parents’ performance”.

The performer then claims that the show’s host, supermodel Tyra Banks, “physically manipulated and verbally abused Mary”.

“Banks shook Mary by the shoulder, pulled Mary’s hair back and physically manipulate (sic) Mary,” the suit details.

It claims Mary didn’t stop Banks’ conduct because she was “fearful”.

“Banks also insinuated that Mary was accidentally conceived, made fun of the performance and ridiculed (the) song in front of Mary, all in front of active cameras that were filming Mary.”

Doe believes her daughter was “traumatised” and became “deeply depressed” following the “abusive treatment”.

The suit claims the child suffers extreme nervousness and anxiety at the mere mention of her parents’ song and at the thought of the footage being aired.

Several weeks after the incident, Doe says she made several requests to the production company to not air any of the footage out of fear it may worsen their daughter’s anxiety. While the company agreed to not air footage of the child, the couple want the segment pulled completely.

The suit claims intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress along with civil battery and civil assault and is seeking a jury trial.

A defence to the claim has yet to be filed.

The upcoming season of America’s Got Talent begins airing in the US next week. It’s the first year Banks has hosted the talent show, with the former America’s Next Top Model host replacing Nick Cannon.