Why Sofia Vergara Is Being Sued Over New Show 'Griselda'
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 09: Sofia Vergara during the premiere of "Griselda", Netflix's new miniseries, on January 9, 2023, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Jose Oliva/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Sofia Vergara may find herself back in court much sooner than expected after finalizing her divorce.
The actress' latest project, Netflix's Griselda, is facing a serious roadblock ahead of its anticipated Jan. 25 release, as the real-life Griselda Blanco's family are suing both Vergara and the streamer for allegedly using their family's image and likenesses without authorization, according to new court documents obtained by TMZ.
The Colombian drug lord's adult children, as representatives of her estate, are reportedly aiming to halt the series' release by requesting an injunction. The publication reports that her son, Michael, claimed to have spent about 13 years giving interviews to folks who were aiming to compile his mother's life story with the intention of eventually developing it into a script and a book.
Michael said that they pitched the project to a producer, but that he was later told that, while they were interested in his mother's story, the streamer didn't want to use any of his material. But now, Michael is alleging that the show did utilize information obtained from his myriad of interviews—for which he never received any form of payment.
The new series follows Blanco, also known as the "Black Widow" or the "Black Widow of Medellín," as she ruthlessly committed drug trafficking, murder and other criminal activities in Miami in the '70s and '80s.
Michael and his siblings have no complaints about their mother's depiction since she's a public figure, but reportedly feel that the use of their own likenesses and interviews indicates that Netflix stole their family's story, thus violating their rights.
No word yet on whether the show will premiere as planned.
Next: Sofia Vergara Finally Opens Up About What Led to Her Divorce
