“Florida Joker” Is Demanding $2 Million From Rockstar Games Following GTA 6 Trailer

“Grand Theft Auto VI” released a recently viral trailer for the highly anticipated video game, and fans were quick to spot the inspiration behind some of the NPCs in Vice City to real-life moments plucked right out of Florida.

In a recent TikTok video uploaded by Lawrence Sullivan, also known as the Florida Joker, he accused Rockstar Games, the studio behind the “Grand Theft Auto” franchise, of stealing his likeness. The “Grand Theft Auto VI” video game trailer showed an NPC in a courtroom with tattoos on his face and colorful hair.

Sullivan, who tattooed his face to resemble Jared Leto’s version of the Joker in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” has been trying to monetize himself after his mug shot went viral in 2017.  Sullivan was arrested after waving a weapon in traffic in Florida.

While the quick glimpse of the character seems to be based on the media coverage of Sullivan’s trial, it is unsure if the character is actually in the game or has a storyline based on Sullivan. Even if it did, the video game company might have the right to create a character with similarities to the Florida Joker since it was made public information in the courts. Plus, parody gives the video company an upper hand.

Rockstar Games has parodied real-life people multiple times. The “Red Dead Redemption 2” Arthur Morgan’s actor, Roger Clark, pointed out in a now-deleted video that Rockstar Games won’t talk to him. “[Rockstars Game] had people like you trying to sue them for decades,” Morgan says in the video.

However, Morgan does offer some advice to the Florida Joker. “If I were you, I would use the notoriety they just threw your way to your advantage. Capitalize on it somehow,” Morgan says in the video.

Sullivan isn’t the first to try and sue the video game company for using his likeness. In 2014, actor Lindsay Lohan filed a lawsuit against the “Grand Theft Auto V” creators, claiming that the character Lacey Jonas is a reference to her, using her image, voice, and styles from the celebrity clothing line (via Business Insider).

Unfortunately for Lohan, model Shelby Welinder confirmed that the bikini images are based on her by posting her “GTA V” contract to Twitter. Lohan’s case wasn’t helped by the Digital Media Law Project, which states that the First Amendment protects you if you want to use someone’s name or likeness to create something new.

However, Rockstar Games has had to deal with some interesting cases over the years, including one from a man who suggested that the “GTA” franchise was at fault for his crime. Federal prisoner Jonathan Lee Riches claimed that “GTA” was responsible for putting him in jail. “Defendants contributed to Plaintiff committing identity theft. Defendant’s games show [depravity] which offends me,” Riches said.

While this is not about the “GTA” franchise, it does involve another one of Rockstar Game’s second biggest video games, “Red Dead Redemption 2.” The open-world game features the Pinkerton Detective Agency, which has been a long symbol with any media focused on the Old West.

The real-life agency sent a cease-and-desist letter to the game developers. The game developers wanted the court to rule that the Pinkerton Detective Agency’s portrayal falls under Fair Use, as the game focuses on the historical accuracy of the characters.

It is no surprise that people often try to go after video games that use their likeness. In some cases, people may welcome being featured in a video game, especially if it’s a popular one. This can be a way to gain publicity and recognition.