The world is buzzing about the upcoming Netflix series “Griselda,” which will be starring Sofía Vergara and is set to premiere on January 25th. The Colombian actress has been on a promotional tour for the show, generating a lot of excitement around her spontaneous and humorous interviews. However, there is now controversy surrounding the series, as the children of the real Griselda Blanco, the notorious drug trafficker on whom the show is based, are seeking to prevent its premiere.
According to TMZ, the children are suing Vergara, who is also a co-producer of the series, claiming that their late mother’s image has been used without authorization. Michael Corleone Blanco, one of Griselda’s children, expressed his displeasure in an interview with Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell, stating that while he is grateful for a Colombian queen like Vergara representing his mother, he was offended that the family was not consulted about the show.
The life of Griselda Blanco is indeed the stuff of a blockbuster movie, with countless books and productions already dedicated to her story. Michael Corleone is set to release a book about his mother in 2025, titled “My Mother, the Godmother,” in which he shares his perspective on his upbringing as the son of the infamous drug lord. Despite acknowledging the harm his mother caused, Michael admits that he cannot hate her and still recalls her through the eyes of a son.
Michael’s argument for filing the lawsuit is based on interviews he gave between 2009 and 2022, indicating that Netflix was interested in his story but did not want to use details or questions from his interviews. However, he believes that the new series is based on his anecdotes and materials, and he has not received any financial benefit from it.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Sofía Vergara, who is currently in Colombia as part of the promotional tour, has yet to comment on the matter. The drama surrounding the production of “Griselda” adds another layer to the eagerly-anticipated series, bringing real-life legal battles into the spotlight.