Sofía Vergara’s new Netflix series Griselda hasn’t yet premiered, and it’s already the source of a lawsuit against the actress and the platform, as reported by TMZ. The series, which is set to hit Netflix on January 25, tells the story of Griselda Blanco, a Columbian drug lord whose illicit business had a large impact on the cocaine trade throughout the United States, particularly in New York and Miami.
Details of the ‘Griselda’ Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, which was brought forth by Blanco’s family, Griselda has used the Blanco family image and likeness without their permission. The family has requested that the judge file an injunction to prevent the series from being released on its set date. The family seemingly has no issues with Grisdelda’s image and likeness being used as she is not named specifically in the suit. Vergara, then, is likely named in the lawsuit due to her role as an executive producer.
In the lawsuit, Griselda’s son Michael Corleone Blanco claims that he’s been interviewed by a team about his life and his mother’s drug business for over a decade. In 2016, after the team interviewing Michael pitched Griselda’s story to multiple parties, Netflix showed interest in the content, however, per Michael, the streamer passed on using information from Michael’s interviews in a potential project. The series reportedly did use information from Michael’s interviews, but Michael claims to have never received compensation, which is the impetus for the suit.
A Major Moment for Sofía Vergara’s Career
Vergara and Netflix have yet to comment on the suit, but both parties have remained busy promoting the upcoming series. “I had never really acted in Spanish before or done anything that wasn’t comedy. I thought immediately that [Griselda] was a very interesting character. As a Latin woman and someone who sounds like me, there aren’t many projects that are perfect for me. This was a role that I could play because she’s a strong Colombian woman,” Vergara said to Netflix Queue of the role.
Before Griselda, Vergara’s most notable television credit was playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the sitcom Modern Family. The actress was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on the series, which is streaming now on Hulu and Peacock. Griselda is already garnering critical praise, potentially positioning Vergara to move into more drama series. Barring legal success for the Blanco family, the series will be streaming soon on Netflix.
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