Sofia Vergara has responded to a lawsuit launched against her by Griselda Blanco’s estate – as the hotly anticipated Netflix drama starring her as Miami’s ‘Cocaine Godmother’ is released.
Vergara, 51, and Netflix are being sued by Blanco’s adult kids who want to block the new series over its alleged ‘unauthorized use of their family’s image and likeness.’
Vergara stars in the series which tells the story of how Blanco’s legendary reign paved the way for the most infamous Colombian cartel.
In response to the lawsuit, Vergara told Entertainment Tonight: ‘I’m trying to understand her from the beginning.
‘I started from being fascinated by her, because she achieved many things that it was impossible for a woman to achieve, even though they were horrific.’
Sofia Vergara has responded to a lawsuit launched against her by Griselda Blanco’s estate – as the hotly anticipated Netflix drama starring her as Miami’s ‘Cocaine Godmother’ is released.
Vergara, 51, and Netflix are being sued by Blanco’s adult kids who want to block the new series over its alleged ‘unauthorized use of their family’s image and likeness’
Griselda creator Eric Newman added: ‘It’s not my first rodeo. The Escobar family made similar claims [for the TV series Narcos].
‘We had a very specific story we wanted to tell. I believe we told it, and I don’t think it in any way prevents someone else from telling their own version of it.
A lawsuit obtained by TMZ and launched by Blanco’s adult kids acting as representatives for her estate, names Vergara as a defendant and Netflix – with the estate suing both parties over what they claim is the unauthorized use of their family’s image and likeness in this upcoming series.
The series was released on January 25 – but the family tried to block its release and asked a judge for an injunction.
Giselda’s son Michael Corleone Blanco claims he has been doing interviews for years to try and get his and his mother’s life story on paper in the hopes of developing into a production.
He alleges these interviews date back to 2009 and continued until 2022.
He claim the unnamed parties wanted to develop the story into a book – and says they told him they’d start shopping it around Hollywood in 2016
He alleges they pitched it to a producer ahead of a meeting with Netflix about it and claims he was then told Netflix was interested – but did not want to use any of the information from the interviews he had done.
A lawsuit obtained by TMZ and launched by Blanco’s adult kids acting as representatives for her estate, names Vergara as a defendant and Netflix – with the estate suing both parties over what they claim is the unauthorized use of their family’s image and likeness in this upcoming series (pictured Michael Corleone Blanco – Griselda’s son)
Griselda Blanco, pictured left, was a barely 5ft tall Colombian ‘queenpin’ linked to 250 murders while she ran her billion dollar empire. Actress Sofia in character as Griselda – pictured right
Sofia has made headlines after transforming her superstar looks with facial prosthetics and makeup in order to play the first female criminal billionaire
Michael says he has now learned the new Griselda show does include a lot of his anecdotes and material – and says he was not paid.
He and his siblings allege Netflix ripped off their family story and weaved it into the plot of their show – with the children claiming use of their own images and likenesses in the show without their permission violate their rights.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Vergara and Netflix for comment.
This comes after Michael spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com about his anger and disappointment over the fact Sofia and her team refused his offer to consult on the project.
He labeled the rejection a ‘slap in the face’ – and said they ‘wouldn’t have got away with it’ if his mother was still alive.
