Sofia’s New Show Faces Backlash by Blanco’s Family

The legal dispute surrounding the Netflix miniseries “Griselda,” featuring Sofia Vergara as the infamous Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, has come to a resolution. In an agreement confirmed today, the family of Griselda Blanco has dismissed their lawsuit against Netflix with prejudice, signaling the conclusion of the legal action.

The lawsuit was initially filed by Blanco’s son, Michael Corleone Blanco, and his wife, Marie, who contested that Netflix did not obtain proper authorization to use their family’s image, likeness, and identity in the production of the miniseries. Filed in a Miami-Dade County Court on January 17, the suit sought to prevent the airing of the show and claimed unauthorized use of private material shared with producers over several years.

According to Michael Blanco, discussions about developing a book and show based on his mother’s life took place between 2009 and 2022, during which he provided interviews and shared personal material with producers. However, he alleged that Netflix created “Griselda” without crediting or compensating him for his contributions.

The settlement brings an end to the legal battle, with all parties agreeing to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, barring any future litigation on the same matter. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Sofia Vergara 'Griselda' lawsuit from real life mobster's son permanently dismissedhttps://t.co/mgwkIqc2s2

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Eric Newman, executive producer of “Griselda,” commented on the lawsuit prior to the show’s release, emphasizing the fictionalized nature of the series and drawing parallels to previous experiences with similar projects.

“We’re not making a documentary; we’re not writing a book about Griselda [Blanco],” Newman stated. “So, we’re not going to tell a story that’s going to make everybody happy or that people are going to say, ‘Oh, that’s exactly what happened.'”

With the legal matter now resolved, “Griselda” remains available for streaming on Netflix, providing viewers with a dramatized portrayal of the life and legacy of Griselda Blanco.