GTA 6 developer Rockstar has once again been accused of using other people’s likenesses in its game without permission.
This time it’s Lawrence Sullivan. Known as the “Florida Clown” for his facial tattoos, he twice called out Rockstar on TikTok shortly after the GTA 6 trailer was released, telling the development studio “You took my likeness, you took my life .” He went on to say that Rockstar owed him “a million or two.”
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In the GTA 6 video, at the 1 minute and 04 second mark a man with facial tattoos reminiscent of Sullivan appears, wearing his iconic orange prison garb. While the tattoos around the eyes look similar, the rest of the character’s facial ink is different. But that wasn’t enough to satisfy Sullivan.
@lawrence.sullivan0 #gta6 #gta6new #gtaonline #gta6joker #florida #maimijoker #gta6 #floridajoker #miami #305 #727 #gta6trailer #thejoker #facetattoos #jokersmile #dc #fyp #joker ♬ Original Sound – Lawrence Sullivan
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Sullivan became famous online in 2017 when photos of them making headlines after they were arrested for charging into traffic with a gun in Miami-Dade County.
Sullivan was in the news again in 2018 after he was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida. The arrest stemmed from a Miami-Dade County probation violation warrant involving an original 2017 charge of carrying a concealed firearm.
@lawrence.sullivan0 #florida #jokerchallenge #gta6 #gta6trailer #gta6new #facetattoo ♬ Original Sound – Lawrence Sullivan
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Rockstar has always been one to poke fun at current events, counterculture, and notorious people through parody or satire. So it’s likely that the studio was inspired by Sullivan – but that’s not confirmed yet.
This isn’t the first time Rockstar has been criticized; the studio was sued in 2014 by actor Lindsay Lohan, who claimed their likeness was used in a character in “Grand Theft Auto 5.” The lawsuit went to court in 2016, and a Manhattan Court of Appeals panel ruled in Rockstar’s favor.
The court said the studio “does not fall within the statutory definitions of ‘advertisement’ or ‘trade.’ The video game’s unique story, characters, dialogue and environment, combined with the player’s ability to choose how to proceed within the game, render it a A work of fiction and satire.”
In the same session, a lawsuit filed by Karen Gravano, the daughter of Mafia informant Sammy “Bull” Gravano, was dismissed. In this case, GTA 5 character Andrea Bottino is said to be based on Karen Gravano.
