Mob Wives: Karen Gravano Speaks On GTA 5 Lawsuit

Last night, Karen Gravano and her lawyer, Thomas Farinella,  appeared on HLN’s Nancy Grace show to address her lawsuit against Rockstar Games. I think what may have brought this on was Rockstar’s ridiculous response to her case in the media, saying she “was too fat to sue.”

As I discussed in yesterdays’ blog, Karen is suing the makers of Grand Theft Auto 5 for 40 million dollars in damages for using her likeness and life story for a character named Antonia Bottino. Up until now, Karen has not discussed her case. 

Nancy Grace, a very well known television lawyer who discusses legal cases in the news on her show, had a lot to say about Karen’s lawsuit. First of all, Nancy is outraged that Rockstar would claim Karen is “too fat to sue,” saying Karen is not fat, she is perfect, and their claim that she is, is ridiculous. Nancy also says that the character’s mannerisms and physical appearance are so similar to Karen’s that “it’s off the charts!” 

Karen briefly discusses the similarities saying that she sees herself in the physical aspects of the character, Antonia Bottini, her eye color, her bone structure and even the way she talks. But, more than that, Karen says from the minute the character gets into the car, she begins to tell Karen’s life story. Their fathers are both named Sammy, they moved out west, the father forbid them to be on a reality show etc. Nancy Grace says, “They ripped off Karen Gravano’s life.”  Mr. Farinella says, “The story, from start to finish, is Karen’s story.

One of my followers, who was watching the show, tweeted out:

Rockstar was contacted by the show, but refused to comment. Instead, they are sticking to their story that the character is slimmer than Karen, was kidnapped and buried alive and those differences are enough to distinguish the character, Antonia, from Karen. Meanwhile, they are making money every day on the sale of their game, using Karen’s likeness and story, to the tune of two billion dollars so far. 

It’s clear to me that Antonia is Karen Gravano. Karen’s story is so unique that it cannot be confused with anyone else’s. Add to that the physical attributes of the character and her likeness to Karen and there is no doubt this is NOT a coincidence.  What do you think? Has Grand Theft Auto 5 turned into Grand Theft Identity?

Picture & Video Credit: Nancy Grace

Mob Wives: Grand Theft Auto V Or Grand Theft Identity?

Karen Gravano                 Antonia Bottino

I have been following the lawsuit filed by Karen Gravano against the makers of Grand Theft Auto V. Not much is being reported on Karen's end yet. However, according to Forbes Magazine, they recently estimate the revenue from the sale of the video game to be close to 2 billion dollars. That's a lot of money! But while the characters in the video game are stealing cars, are the makers of the game, Rockstar Games, possibly stealing identities for their characters?

Let's see what the makers of Grand Theft Auto have to say about using Karen Gravano's likeness and identity for their character, Antonia Bottino. According to TMZ, the makers admit there is some resemblance, but allegedly say their character is slimmer than Karen, therefore it is not her. Hmmm, is that their case? Sounds pretty weak to me. It might be something as simple as the "artist" who drew Antonia was not very good? Or maybe Antonia was wearing spanx? They look pretty much alike to me except Karen is much prettier. But what they may lack in physical characteristics, Rockstar more than makes up for in the details of their lives.

In a blog written on February 26th, 2014, I took the time to outline all the factual similarities between Karen Gravano and Antonia Bottino. However, I didn't put them both on a scale to weigh them because we all know that is just impossible, even though Rockstar Games is allegedly using that as their defense. Can I insert and eyeroll here? Here is what I wrote in my first blog on this case:

Let's see...Karen/Antonia both have fathers who were underbosses in the mob. Karen's father is Sammy Gravano, Antonia's father is Sammy Bottino. Sammy Gravano worked for the Gambino Crime Family under John Gotti, the Teflon Don. Antonia's father worked for the Gambetti Crime Family, under Don Jon Gravelli. Karen's father was arrested for murder and turned informant for a plea deal. Antonia's father was arrested for murder and turned snitch. Both Karen and Antonia had trouble accepting their fathers cooperating with authorities. Karen and Antonia's families both moved out west to go into hiding . . . we know Sammy Gravano moved his from their fathers' decision.  Antonia and Karen were approached about being in a reality television show. Both fathers were against their daughters being on a show about the mob . . . Karen in Mob Wives and Antonia in Wise B*tches. Come on . . . if that's not Karen, who the hell is it?

I think anyone with an ounce of common sense would come to the reasonable conclusion that Antonia Bottino is a deadringer for Karen Gravano's life and likeness. It's a no brainer. So I hope some of that two billion dollar ends up in Karen's pocket because this seems to be, what is known in the law as, "commercial misappropriation." And I credit my "go to" lawyer, from Staten Island Law, Elura Nanos with identifying the cause of action in this case.

Picture Credit: Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto 5 and VH1

Mob Wives: Karen Gravano A Character In Grand Theft Auto V?

Does Antonia Bottino resemble Karen Gravano?

The New York Daily News is reporting that Karen Gravano is suing Grand Theft Auto 5 for using her likeness and details of her life for the game. Could this be true? The image does look like Karen...now what about the details? I took a look at a video of the game featuring Antonia/Karen to see what similarities I could find...there are plenty! First take a look at Antonia Bottino's profile.

Let's see...Karen/Antonia both have fathers who were underbosses in the mob. Karen's father is Sammy Gravano, Antonia's father is Sammy Bottino. Sammy Gravano worked for the Gambino Crime Family under John Gotti, Antonia's father worked for the Gambetti Crime Family, under Don Jon Gravelli. Karen's father was arrested for murder and turned informant for a plea deal. Antonia's fatheer was arrested for murder and turned snitch. Both Karen and Antonia had trouble accepting their father's cooperation with authorities. Karen and Antonia's families both moved out west to go into hiding...we know Sammy Gravano moved his family to Arizona. Both fathers made a lot of enemies. Both father were against their daughters being in a reality show...Karen in Mob Wives and Antonia in Mob B*tches. Come on...if that's not Karen who the hell is it?

Now, here is the video, the dialogue is summarized above. So what do you think of the similarities? Does the lawsuit have merit? I would hate to think that this is the only way we are going to see Karen back on television. This lawsuit is a perfectly REAL storyline for Karen on Mob Wives Season 5 along with her confrontation of pitiful Alicia!

Picture and Video credit Grand Theft Auto V

P.S. My favorite Staten Island lawyer, Elura Nanos, has weighed in on the subject of the lawsuit. Looks like Karen may have a case!