Tyra Banks‘ long-teased ice cream venture has become the center of a legal freeze-out.

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The supermodel had planned to launch Smize & Dream with a flagship store in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill, blending sweet treats with a mission rooted in community, entrepreneurship, and a tribute to her mother.

But while the brand recently made waves overseas with a buzzy opening in Sydney, its D.C. debut never materialized.

Now, the abandoned plans are at the heart of a nearly $3 million lawsuit.

The owner of the Eastern Market property where Smize & Dream was set to open claims Banks, her business partner Louis Martin, and their company walked away from a long-term lease after taking possession of the space.

Bank’s legal team disputes the claims, calling the case a “celebrity shakedown.”

As the court battle unfolds, Smize & Dream continues to expand internationally, just not in the city where it was first dreamed up.

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