Sofia Vergara Faces Lawsuit Over Portrayal of Griselda Blanco in Netflix Series
Sofia Vergara, renowned for her role in “Modern Family,” is facing a lawsuit over her portrayal of Griselda Blanco, the infamous Colombian drug lord, in the Netflix series “Griselda.” The series, which has Vergara transformed into the notorious ‘Cocaine Godmother,’ has sparked controversy with Blanco’s family, leading to legal action.
“Griselda,” set in 1970s Miami, is a dramatized account of Blanco’s rise in the Medellín drug cartel. Despite Vergara’s unrecognizable transformation for the role, the portrayal has not been well-received by Blanco’s real-life family.
They have sued Vergara, who is also an executive producer on the series, and Netflix for using the family’s image and likeness without consent.
The Blanco family’s lawsuit claims that the series exploits their life story without approval. They argue that while Griselda Blanco is a public figure, the unauthorized use of the family’s likeness and the lack of compensation for the show’s reliance on Michael Blanco’s research and interviews is unjust.
Vergara’s portrayal of Blanco is a significant departure from her previous comedic roles. However, she has not publicly addressed the lawsuit. The series creator, Eric Newman, responded to the lawsuit, comparing it to similar claims made by the Escobar family regarding his other series, “Narcos.”
The legal action taken by the Blanco family highlights the complexities of depicting real-life figures in dramatized content. It raises questions about the ethical and legal implications of using a person’s life story for entertainment purposes without their family’s consent.
The lawsuit against Sofia Vergara and Netflix over the “Griselda” series underscores the delicate balance between creative storytelling and respecting the rights and histories of real people. As the legal proceedings unfold, the entertainment industry will be watching closely to see how this case impacts future biographical portrayals.
