Sofia Vergara finds herself entangled in a legal battle as the estate of the notorious former Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco files a lawsuit against her, Netflix, and other contributors to the new limited series titled “Griselda.”
The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on January 17, lists the 51-year-old actress, along with Netflix and various project collaborators, as co-defendants. Eric Newman, the creator and executive producer, commented on the lawsuit, stating that dealing with legal challenges from the subject’s estate is not uncommon in such projects.
Newman drew parallels with his previous experience working on “Narcos,” where he faced similar suits from Pablo Escobar’s family. In “Griselda,” Vergara not only takes on the role of Griselda Blanco but also serves as an executive producer.
Griselda Blanco’s son, Michael Corleone Blanco, and his wife, Marie, are seeking damages (amount unspecified). They also requested an emergency temporary injunction to halt the January 25 release of the series, claiming that it utilizes unauthorized images, likenesses, and identities of family members, which they did not get, as the series was released on it due date.
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The lawsuit further alleges that the series relied on recorded conversations with Michael Corleone Blanco, for which he was not compensated. According to Benjamin Mordes, the attorney representing Michael, Netflix used ideas from interviews and writings without proper acknowledgment.
Despite attempts to reach out for comments, representatives for Vergara and Netflix have not responded.
The Netflix series portrays the life of Griselda Blanco, a former Colombian drug lord known as the “Godmother of Cocaine,” who played a significant role in smuggling cocaine into the United States. Eric Newman emphasizes his goal as a storyteller is to humanize even those who commit monstrous acts, framing it as a cautionary tale.
Vergara, in an interview on “The Tonight Show,” shared her personal connection to the story, expressing familiarity with the era and the drug trade due to her brother’s involvement. She highlighted Blanco’s ability to operate under the radar as a woman in a male-dominated field, managing to raise four children while leading a notorious drug cartel.
The Blanco estate’s lawsuit claims that Michael Corleone Blanco had plans to use the recorded interviews for his own project. The family alleges that despite being willing to share his insights with Netflix, the defendants ignored him, aiming to profit from his work.
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In response, Netflix’s attorneys argued that Blanco had agreed to share his work with intermediaries before Netflix obtained it, disputing claims of misappropriation and asserting that the material is expressed as a literary work rather than mere ideas.
As the legal battle unfolds, Sofia Vergara, who recently mentioned being unaware of the lawsuit due to her touring schedule, remains a fan of Griselda Blanco and plans to read Michael Blanco’s book on the matter.
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The real Griselda Blanco, arrested in 1985, spent nearly two decades in prison for drug trafficking and murders before being deported to Colombia in 2004. She met a violent end, assassinated in Medellin on September 3, 2012.
