‘Griselda’ star Sofia Vergara portrays the Colombian drug lord in the streaming series
A judge has permanently dismissed a lawsuit against Netflix and Sofia Vergara regarding the streaming platform’s new show “Griselda,” US Newzs Digital confirmed.
Michael Corleone Blanco, the son of the “Cocaine Godmother,” Griselda Blanco, and his wife Marie filed for the dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice on February 9 in Miami-Dade County Court, according to court documents obtained by US Newzs Digital.
Initially, Griselda’s family had sued Netflix, Vergara, and other parties on January 17, alleging the “unauthorized” use of the family’s “image, likeness, and/or identity” for the fictional dramatization of Griselda’s story.
It remains uncertain whether a settlement led to the dismissal of the lawsuit. Representatives for Netflix and Vergara did not immediately respond to US Newzs Digital’s request for comment.
In the initial complaint, the Blanco family accused Netflix of using information obtained from sit-down interviews with Griselda’s son Michael in the limited series without his permission or compensation.
According to court documents, Michael “spent several years carefully documenting the personal narratives of both his and his mother’s life, with the intent of publishing a book and creating a Spanish soap opera.”
The family asserted that Netflix and other involved parties had “no prior awareness” of the stories shared by Michael during “confidential conversations.”
The son of the Cocaine Godmother previously criticized the project in an interview with US Newzs Digital, highlighting that the Blanco family was not involved in the production of the Netflix series.
“Sofia Vergara did not consult with any members of the Blanco family out of respect, nor did she seek family details to portray my mother,” he stated. “When I became aware of the ‘Griselda’ project, my team reached out to Sofia’s team and offered my consulting services.”
Vergara, who plays the Colombian drug lord in the Netflix series, stated in an interview with Telemundo, as reported by “Today,” that she was “not very aware” of the lawsuit at the time due to her press tour.
Michael informed US Newzs Digital that despite receiving an invitation to meet with Vergara’s team, he was informed that there was no space for him on the project.
“Sofia’s team and the creators at Netflix were disrespectful and proceeded to develop the ‘Griselda’ project on their own for profit, without crucial input from the Blanco family,” he alleged. “Following the meeting, my legal representatives formally issued a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix and Sofia’s team. To date, neither Netflix nor Sofia’s team has made any effort to resolve the matter.
“Regardless of public knowledge, basic respect should be given,” Michael continued. “I am Griselda’s sole surviving son with life rights agreements signed by Griselda herself, granting me the authority to tell her life story. Being a businessman in the entertainment industry, I understand the significance of motion pictures as I have a forthcoming book based on the true story.”
The Netflix series portrays a dramatized account of Griselda Blanco’s life as a Colombian drug lord. Griselda, while raising four children, climbed the ranks of the cartel. She was fatally shot in 2012 at the age of 69. Griselda was often known as the “Cocaine Godmother” and the “female Pablo Escobar.”
Vergara, renowned for her role in “Modern Family,” explained her decision to portray the “Cocaine Godmother.”
“I grew up during that era. I understand that business,” Vergara shared in an interview with Jimmy Fallon. “My brother was involved in that business. He was killed in the ’90s. So, I felt very connected, like, ‘I know this character. I believe I can portray her.’
“One reason she got away with so much was because she was a woman. People never imagined a woman capable of the horrendous acts she committed.”