Georgia woman sues Tyra Banks for putting her daughter on a 'sex addict' show

When a teenage girl goes missing, is Tyra Banks to blame? That's what a Georgia mother claims in a $3-million lawsuit filed Oct. 8 against Banks, Warner Bros. Entertainment and the executive producers of Banks' now-defunct "Tyra Banks Show."

Beverly McClendon alleges that last year Banks arranged for her 15-year-old daughter, Jewel Ciera McClendon, to appear on Banks' talk show, without Beverly's consent. The lawsuit states that after Jewel responded to a request for "sex addicts" on the show's website, a spokesperson called the girl on her cellphone and arranged to pick her up in a limo from her Atlanta home, fly her to New York and put her up in a hotel.

Beverly says that, because she didn't know where her daughter was, she filed a missing persons report only to end up seeing Jewel on television.

On the show, Jewel discussed losing her virginity at age 9, having sex with more than 20 men, getting pregnant three times and fearing that she might have herpes. But the lawsuit says that Jewel has never been diagnosed as a sex addict, and Beverly claims her daughter suffered damages because the 2009 show "was undoubtedly watched by sexual deviants, perverts and pedophiles." She is seeking $1 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages.

Warner Bros. Television Group spokesman Scott Rowe told ABC News on Sunday that the company had no comment. Banks' spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment today.

— Melissa Maerz

Photo: Tyra Banks in New York. Credit: Evan Agostini /Associated Press.

Comments

[MsTrendy]

we need Tyra to a little more better than this.

[D]

Sounds like someone needs to be a better parent.

[c anthony]

Let me get this right: your 15 year old daughter started having sex at 9 years old, she's been pregnant 3 times, she might have herpes, she's had sex with over 20 men, and only thing the mother thinks about is the fact that now people might actually know about her daughter's promiscuity because of her appearance on Tyra. Lady, get a grip, your daughter needs some serious professional help. Also, the guys looking for over sexed young girls don't need Tyra to tell them where they're at--that news spreads like wildfire.

[theCanimalsHusband]

My guess is the young girl, Jewell, had a good teacher in her mother who is filing the lawsuit.

[HeresAthought]

Erm.....did anyone think that maybe the girl was lying about the whole "lost virginity at 9, pregnant 3 times, sex with over 20 guys" thing??? It is very common for young teenagers to lie about things like this to seem either cooler, or more dramatic in order to get some attention.......there have been many incidents in other talk shows back in the early 90s where these young girls have talked and BSed their way onto a talk show just to get on tv. Yes, its quite possible her mother was a bit neglectful---though its equally as plausible that one director made a hasty decision to go ahead and pick the girl up with almost no validation of her claims because her story was simply too "juicy" to pass up. (also a common thing in talk shows of the past---a major case of 'Did Not Do the Research' http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DidNotDoTheResearch )

Oh, and btw......a trashy talk show is the last place you would find a true abuse survivor with that kind of horror story, end of discussion.

[carouser]

If a 15-years-old, decides to take it open herself to reach out so-far as to go to national television to reveal her secret to a talk show host celebrity, that clearly seems to be a cry for help. Was it a cry that her mother just failed to recognize? Or are children more comfortable turning themselves into mini-media sensations than telling their parents what’s going on in their lives?

http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2010/10/tyra-banks-is-now-in-the-hot-seat-the-accusations-fly/

[swimmer890]

I was on that show for being portrayed as the EXACT same thing. being on that show ruined my life. i changed schools, lost friends, got kicked out of societies, and was refused jobs because of it. I know that money doesn't buy happiness, I think that suing tyra banks will make up for my damaged life that i have had to start over many times.

[Mark O. David]

teen sex addicts are why the human race still exists after famine,plague,war and past climate changes.

[Mark O. David]

Melissa,does the historical truth about the value of teen sex addicts hurt so much that you won't print it?

[Mark O. David]

The historical truth about teen sex addicts is they are in large part what has saved the human rase from the terminal effects of plague,famine,war,past climate changes and other hazards of our turbulent past.It is only in the last century that this element in society has fallen from grace.The way things are going they well may be our reward again. Not religion or politics or modern social convention will ever stop what has always been a part of life.Get used to it and stop condemning this natural behavior.

[Michele Cole]

Why is it as a society we look for others to target for lack of any parental skills beforehand. It is obvious, that this family hadmany familial issues before any apperance on Tyra. Many people seek want 15 minutes of fame. Perhaps a slap of self esteem is in order for both the mother and the daughter. It is not for Tyra to fix what is ailing our country's youth, but continue to expose the all too bleak future of some.

Perhaps the Mother should have choosen a different path, long before her daughter aired her filthy laundry on national television. Perhaps if anyone should be sued, it would be the twenty men she laid down with. What? Can't find them?

Tyra is an easy target, but clearly not a bankroll for every damaged and broken indivual that wants their 15 minutes of fame. Stay strong , my sistah. You are an excellent role model for our youth today. I appauld you and what you bring to the very table many Americans want to shove under the carpet.