ENTERTAINMENT
Sofía Vergara faces lawsuit for new Griselda Blanco series
The Colombian actress is facing a lawsuit from the family of Griselda Blanco following the release of her new series.
Over the past few days, Sofia Vergara has been actively promoting her forthcoming Netflix series, Griselda, a fictional dramatisation inspired by actual events and the life of Colombian drug trafficker Griselda Blanco.
The synopsis shared by Netflix describes the narrative of Griselda Blanco’s transformation into a formidable drug empire leader as “a fictionalised dramatisation inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most powerful cartels in history”.
Although the miniseries is currently scheduled to debut on January 25, potential alterations loom on the horizon. This is due to a lawsuit faced by both Sofia Vergara and Netflix seeking an injunction against the series’ release.
Blanco’s children have initiated legal proceedings against Vergara
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Blanco’s adult children, acting as representatives of her estate, have initiated legal proceedings against Vergara and Netflix. The crux of their argument lies in the alleged unauthorised use of their family’s image within the forthcoming series. Consequently, they petition the court to prevent its release.
In the midst of portraying Griselda Blanco in the series, Sofia Vergara also assumes the role of executive producer, explaining her inclusion in the legal dispute.
Griselda’s son, Michael, asserts that he has been engaging in interviews spanning from 2009 to 2022 with individuals seeking to document his and his mother’s life story. He reveals that Netflix expressed interest in his narrative but declined to incorporate any details from his extensive interviews. Nevertheless, he contends that the series draws heavily from his anecdotes and material, yet he claims to have received no compensation for its utilisation.
Vergara allegedly in arrears of a $1.7 million payment
Furthermore, within the lawsuit, he alleges that the inclusion of his mother’s images and portraits in the program without permission constitutes a violation of their rights.
This legal entanglement marks the second challenge Sofia Vergara has encountered in recent months. In November of the preceding year, a Beverly Hills contractor filed a lawsuit against her amounting to $1.7 million.
As per TMZ, this legal matter pertains to a remodelling project undertaken at the actress’s residence in April 2022. Allegedly, Vergara is in arrears of a $1.7 million payment, as outlined in the contractual agreement that included remuneration for the completed work and the contractor’s fee. However, the contractor contends that Vergara has refused to settle the outstanding amount.
Vergara has responded by asserting that she previously filed a complaint against the company, seeking damages totalling $5 million, in addition to highlighting the substandard quality of the work performed.