The photograph of Florida’s ‘Joker,’ whose facial tattoos drew global notice, has claimed that Rockstar Games, the producer of the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, used his appearance in the trailer for the current version. He is now suing Rockstar Games for $2 million for allegedly utilizing his likeness in GTA 6 without his permission. The release of the GTA 6 trailer shattered the previous record for the most views of a non-music video on YouTube in the first 24 hours. According to Variety, it earned more than 93 million dollars.
“GTA, we’ve got to talk,” he says. “If not, you have to give me a million or two.”
Soon after the trailer was released, fans noted a scene in which an alligator walks into a convenience store and another in which cops chase a naked guy. Florida Joker, a.k.a. Lawrence Sullivan, stated in a TikTok video that the tattooed man in the videos is modelled after him. When Miami police arrested Mr. Sullivan in 2017 for brandishing a gun at passing automobiles, his mugshot went viral. In his most recent TikTok video, he informs viewers that anyone who doesn’t notice the similarities between himself and the tattooed man in the trailer is “out their goddamn nuggets.”
“GTA, we’ve got to talk,” he says. If not, you have to give me a million or two.” Sullivan shows a photo of his mugshot next to a screenshot of the trailer showing a game character with similar face tattoos in the video. “Florida Joker ain’t having that,” he says. You used my likeness. You took my life. That’s my name. That is the person they were inspired by. That’s who I am.” Only on JioSaavn.com can you listen to the most recent tunes. There has been no confirmation from either Rockstar or Sullivan that either party has reached out or that a compromise has been struck.