Supermodel Tyra Banks is seeking more than $50,000 in compensation from a D.C. landlord who had sued her for failing to open an ice cream shop called Smize & Dream, multiple news outlets report.
The former host of “America’s Next Top Model” accuses landlord Christopher Powell of a “celebrity shakedown” in his lawsuit over the termination of a 10-year lease signed in April 2024 for a property in the District.
Ms. Banks, who lives in Sydney, Australia, is seeking compensation for legal expenses she had to pay in what she calls improper an legal action against celebrities.
Mr. Powell had sued Ms. Banks and her business partner/boyfriend Louis Bélanger-Martin for $2.8 million over the abandoned ice cream shop project, saying they refused to pay rent after leaving for Australia in June 2024. The lawsuit was dismissed in December.
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.
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