148 million views on YouTube in just two weeks. With the release of the first trailer at the beginning of December, the new Grand Theft Auto part is already causing excitement around the world. This 1.5-minute trailer highlights Miami, also known as Vice-City, in the saga and is inspired by several iconic personalities of the famous American seaside city.
Among them is a small criminal figure that the residents of the “Gateway to America” know well: Florida Joker, or in French the Florida Joker. In the trailer released by game publisher Rockstar Games, a fictional character takes on an appearance and tattoos that are strangely similar to this somewhat zany personality. Several fans of the game didn't hesitate to point out this obvious similarity.
YOU HAVE FLORIDA JOKER IN GTA 6 pic.twitter.com/7VL35JfKQS
– Born to Tweet, Forced to Post (@The_Cultist_) December 4, 2023
“Shocked” and “disbelieving” about the trailer
The Florida Joker, real name Lawrence Sullivan, a former Miami resident, made headlines in 2017 when he was arrested for possession of soft drugs and carrying firearms. In a video posted on his TikTok account on December 8th, he again spoke about this reference to himself. And essentially: he didn't like it (at all).
Contacted by Paris Match, the 30-year-old, who now lives in Saint Petersburg in far west Florida, admits he was both “shocked” and “in disbelief” when he saw the GTA 6 trailer for the first time. “I couldn't believe what I saw,” he added.
Family life, far from clichés
In his video, which has been viewed more than a million times, he demands almost $2 million in compensation from Rockstar Games. Because Lawrence is categorical: the game publisher has tarnished its image. “They used my image to focus on a dark part of my life that I had left behind. In fact, to ease my pain and that of my family, I am asking for this amount of money,” he told us.
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The former Joker makes it clear: he has become a thing. According to his own statements, he leads the life of a “peaceful” patchwork family with his girlfriend and his stepdaughter. The former perpetrator even claims to make a living as a content creator, far away from human trafficking of any kind.
Lawrence Sullivan in front of his home in Saint Petersburg, 400 km west of Miami, Florida. ©DR
When asked about possible talks with Rockstar Games to resolve this dispute, the former criminal stated that he had contacted him, but admitted that he was still waiting for a response. Angered by this slowness, he declares that he will not hesitate to take the game's publisher to court for “stealing his image.”