Lawrence Sullivan, widely known as the Florida "Joker" for his distinctive face tattoos, has accused Rockstar Games of using his likeness in the newly released trailer for "Grand Theft Auto 6" (GTA 6). Sullivan, whose mugshot went viral in 2017, claims that a character in the game closely resembles him, sparking a controversy over the use of his image without permission.
The GTA 6 trailer, which broke YouTube records by amassing over 93 million views within its first 24 hours, features scenes that viewers have linked to viral incidents in Florida, the game's setting. Among these scenes is a character with face tattoos that Sullivan alleges is modeled after his appearance. In a TikTok video, Sullivan asserts, "That's me. That's the person they got their inspiration from," and jokingly demands, "GTA we got to talk. If not, you got to give me like a mil or two."
@dailymail Florida Joker Demands Money from Rockstar Games After GTA 6 Trailer. #fyp #gta6 #gta #floridajoker #lawsuit #rockstargames ♬ original sound - Daily Mail
Sullivan's claim comes in the wake of Rockstar Games facing similar likeness accusations in previous GTA titles. In 2014, actress Lindsay Lohan filed a lawsuit against Rockstar, claiming a character in GTA 5 resembled her. However, the New York Supreme Court dismissed the case in 2016, stating that the game did not use Lohan's name, image, or photograph and was a work of fiction, not covered under advertising laws.
Florida "Joker" Lawrence Sullivan
Sullivan's tattoos, which he says hold personal significance and symbolize his overcoming of life's tragedies, have become a part of his identity. He told WFLA in Tampa, "That old Lawrence you saw with the plain face, he's dead. This is the new Lawrence slash Joker."
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Sullivan's claim will lead to any legal action against Rockstar Games. Meanwhile, the gaming community continues to eagerly await the release of GTA 6, amidst discussions and debates spurred by the trailer's content and its references to real-life events and personalities.
Source: TikTok