Lawsuit Filed Against Sofia Vergara and Netflix by Griselda Blanco’s Family to Halt the Release of ‘Griselda’

Sofia Vergara in new Netflix series

The estate of Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, set to be depicted in an upcoming Netflix miniseries starring Sofia Vergara, is taking legal action against both the streaming service and the actor/producer. The lawsuit aims to prevent the release of the show later this month.

Filed by Blanco’s son, Michael Corleone Blanco, and his wife, Marie Blanco (identified as Michael Sepulvedablanco and Marie Sepulvedablanco in the complaint), the lawsuit was submitted on Wednesday in Florida’s Miami-Dade County court. Michael Corleone Blanco accuses the creators of the show of using his unreleased “artistic literary work” and his likeness without permission or proper credit in depicting the life story of himself and his mother, Griselda Blanco De Trujillo.

marie and michael very blanco

The lawsuit asserts that Blanco has dedicated several years to meticulously documenting the private narratives of both himself and his mother with the intention of publishing a book and developing a Spanish soap opera. Seeking a temporary injunction against Netflix to halt the release of the limited series on January 25 and prevent the alleged use of his artistic literary work, Blanco is also claiming at least $100,000 in damages.

 

Michael Corleone Blanco contends that Netflix and the creators of the miniseries, titled “Griselda,” utilized content from his unreleased book without his consent. The lawsuit highlights the involvement of two defendants, Andres Hernando Lopez and Rafael Alfredo Rojas Vega, who allegedly agreed in 2009 to assist Blanco in publishing a book and developing a Spanish soap opera. Furthermore, Blanco accuses Lopez of meeting with Netflix to discuss his family’s story, but claims that Netflix declined to use Blanco’s consultation or literary work.

Blanco alleges that Lopez and Rojas Vega then proceeded to actively sell or provide Blanco’s unreleased private artistic literary work. The legal dispute adds complexity to the forthcoming series, which Netflix describes as a “fictionalized dramatization inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most powerful cartels in history.” The six-episode drama series, set to premiere on January 25, delves into the life of Griselda Blanco, known for establishing a formidable drug cartel.

As the legal battle unfolds, it introduces questions about intellectual property, consent, and the portrayal of real-life events in entertainment. The clash between Blanco’s son and the creators of the miniseries underscores the challenges and controversies surrounding the production and release of content based on true stories, especially when familial perspectives and intellectual property rights are at stake. The outcome of this lawsuit could have broader implications for the portrayal of real individuals and their families in the realm of entertainment.

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