Drug Trafficker Takes Netflix to Court Over Character Depiction
In the realm of the bizarre and amusing, a notorious Spanish drug smuggler has decided to sue Netflix for a staggering 1.5 million euros. The reason? He's not too happy about the portrayal of him as an impotent, violent, and cocaine dealing individual in the popular series, "Cocaine Coast."
The Man Behind the Lawsuit:
Laureano Oubina (77), a former "narco" kingpin who served 22 years in prison for drug trafficking, finds himself taking legal action against the streaming giant. His lawyer, Jorge Paladino, claimed that the series has caused him "moral damage," tarnishing Oubina's reputation by portraying him as a ruthless, violent, and deceitful individual.
What's the Fuss About?
The Netflix series "Cocaine Coast" premiered in August 2018, reaching an impressive 2.5 million Spanish households. The show kickstarts with Oubina, one of the most prominent hashish traffickers among Galician smugglers, and his wife in their splendid Pazo de Baion estate. The mansion was seized by the government in 2008 and later sold for an impressive 25 million US dollars[1].
Oubina, particularly disgruntled with the explicit depictions of his sexual relationships with his late wife, Esther Lago, in the series, claimed that they were untrue and insulting to his dignity[1]. The series further humorously presented a scenario where Oubina kept money in a water tank, and upon the tank's breakdown, the cash scattered across the town[1]. Oubina's legal team argued that these depictions mocked him and bore no resemblance to the truth.
As Netflix hasn't commented on the lawsuit yet, the world eagerly awaits the verdict.
Additional Perspectives:
- A similar case involving a character with erectile dysfunction stimulated discussions on sensitive topics portrayed in media with the release of the Netflix series, "Desk Delta."
- Interestingly, Laureano Oubina himself authored a book about his life, providing another perspective on his story contrasting the depiction in "Cocaine Coast."
Sources:
[1] Retrieved from
Enrichment Insights:
Although it's not common to sue streaming platforms for moral damage due to character portrayals in shows like "Cocaine Coast," there are instances where individuals have taken legal action over character depictions in media. For example, in 2022, television reality star Bethenny Frankel sued TikTok for selling counterfeit products using her image, focusing on intellectual property and commercial use rather than character portrayal damage[1].
In other related legal cases, Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and a smear campaign, which aimed to inflict personal and professional harm rather than portrayal damages in her character[1].
Therefore, while it may seem uncommon for individuals to sue streaming platforms for moral damage due to character depictions in shows like "Cocaine Coast," the broader legal landscape involves various legal grounds, such as defamation and intellectual property infringement, in character-related lawsuits.
