Mob Wives personality Karen Gravano is suing Rockstar to the tune of $40m, alleging the studio used her likeness and personal history in Grand Theft Auto V. New York Daily News reports Gravano's suit claims Rockstar used the former reality show star's likeness and story for the character Antonia Bottino – a character featured in a random encounter mission titled “Burial.”
The report further reveals Gravano feels Rockstar could have licensed her story “with relative ease,” instead of facing the suit. The lawsuit breaks the $40m figure down to $20m in compensation and $20m in punitive damages.
“Notwithstanding the fact that plaintiff has the utmost respect for the writers and creators of the Grand Theft Auto 5 video game, her story is unique and is hers to tell,” the lawsuit reads.
Like the game character Bottino, Gravano’s father Sammy Gravano was an underboss for the Gambino crime family – later becoming a government witness as part of a plea bargain.