The latest Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 trailer released by Rockstar Games has broken records, amassing over 93 million views on YouTube within its first 24 hours.
However, amidst the excitement, controversy has emerged as Lawrence Sullivan, known as the Florida “Joker” due to his distinctive face tattoos, accuses the game developer of using his likeness in the highly anticipated game.
Controversy Surrounds GTA 6
The GTA 6 trailer, set in Florida, features scenes reminiscent of viral incidents in the state, including an alligator entering a convenience store and a police chase involving a naked man. Among those who observed the parallels was Lawrence Sullivan, whose 2017 mugshot went viral after he was arrested for pointing a gun at passing vehicles in Miami.
In a TikTok video, Sullivan pointed out the resemblance between himself and a character in the GTA 6 trailer with similar face tattoos.
“GTA, we got to talk,” he stated in the video, suggesting compensation of a million or two if a conversation did not occur. Sullivan insists that Rockstar Games took inspiration from his life and likeness, emphasizing, “That’s me. That’s the person they got their inspiration from.”
Sullivan, who refers to himself as the “Florida Joker,” asserted that the tattoos have personal significance, representing his transformation akin to the Joker character overcoming tragedies.
He previously expressed this sentiment in 2018 following an arrest for missing psychiatric appointments.
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Florida Joker Claims Likeness
Rockstar Games has a history of facing likeness claims in its GTA titles. In 2014, actor Lindsay Lohan sued the company, alleging that a character in GTA 5 resembled her.
However, the New York Supreme Court dismissed the suit in 2016, stating that Rockstar never explicitly referred to Lohan by name and that the game was a work of fiction, not subject to laws covering advertising.
Whether Sullivan’s claims will hold merit remains to be seen, but history suggests that proving a case against Rockstar Games for using a person’s likeness in a fictional context can be challenging.
As the controversy unfolds, it adds an unexpected layer to the anticipation surrounding the release of GTA 6.
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