The man who inspired a tiny sequence in GTA 6 continues to ride on his fleeting fame by seeking damages from Rockstar Games for using his image. Far from being able to prevail, man begins to become entertainment in his own right.
“ We’re going to have to talk, GTA, we’re going to have to talk! » Lawrence Sullivan, the thug who inspired the Joker in the trailer for GTA 6 has obviously taken a liking to his new celebrity. He has been increasing the number of videos on his personal account since he discovered the trailer for the new game from Rockstar Games. In the latest, from December 8, 2023, he specifies that the studio should give him “ a million or two “.
In this short trailer, a scene lasting a few seconds catches the eye: an extract from a report in Spanish on a bandit in prison clothes, after his arrest, soberly called “ a man from Leonida “. Leonida is the name of the fictional state inspired by Florida, in which GTA 6.
GTA 6 was inspired by news stories and social networks
The resemblance is striking and it’s normal: Rockstar Games was inspired by several news items to build its video game. In the trailer alone, we see a reference to this famous “joker”, but also to the “ woman with hammers », a racist American who had destroyed her neighbors’ car.
The latter has not (yet?) been noticed. Lawrence Sullivan, on the other hand, continues to roam the GTA studio in his videos. The man, arrested for carrying a weapon in 2017, exclaims in his latest production: “ You took my image, you took my life “. And get carried away: “ Everyone tells me I’m hallucinating, that I’m not the joker of GTA 6, but look », he explains, showing, side by side, his photo mugshot of 2017 with the illustration of the game.
No one could deny the resemblance. But from there to asking for millions of dollars in reparations, the step is daring. Remember that video games are protected by the American First Amendment, which grants the right to parody. This is what actress Lindsay Lohan learned the hard way, who lost her case against GTA 5 and her “bimbo” character freely inspired by her image.
For Lawrence Sullivan, all is not lost: this spotlight has already allowed him to publish videos which approach a million views. He is also playing with the situation, having chosen as his profile photo… the extract from GTA 6.
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