Lawrence Sullivan, popularly known as the Florida Joker, has reignited his feud with gaming giant Rockstar Games over the alleged unauthorized use of his likeness in the GTA 6 trailer. The dispute, which had been put on hold for some time, came back to the forefront when Sullivan posted a video on TikTok on March 16, 2024.
Despite initially expressing disinterest in engaging with Rockstar Games, Sullivan quickly changed his tune in a subsequent video on March 17, 2024. In the video, he reiterated his demand for compensation from both Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, for the unauthorized use of his likeness in the GTA 6 trailer.
Sullivan, who has previously sought one to two million dollars in compensation, has now upped his demands to around $5 million. In addition to financial recompense, he has also expressed interest in securing a voice role for the GTA 6 Joker character, further escalating the dispute.
Drawing parallels to another dispute he is involved in with the creators of the forthcoming film The Crow, Sullivan claims that the character of Eric Draven also bears a resemblance to him, adding fuel to his claims of intellectual property infringement.
Despite attempts by industry insiders and voice actors associated with Rockstar Games to dissuade him, Sullivan remains steadfast in his pursuit of compensation. As the Florida Joker continues to garner attention online, the gaming community eagerly awaits any official response from Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive regarding Sullivan’s demands. However, as of now, both companies have remained silent on the matter.