Former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega is none too pleased with the makers of popular video game Call of Duty for depicting him as “a kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state,” per a new lawsuit.
The <strongLos Angeles Times is reporting that Noriega filed the lawsuit yesterday, July 15 in Los Angeles County Superior Court against publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. According to the suit, Noriega, 80, is seeking damages from the specific title of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which makes has an overall has a market capitalization of $16.3 billion. It states Noriega’s illegal use of his likeness in the game was used to heighten realism in its game.”
Whether or not Noriega’s portrayal in the game was illegal or not is for the courts to decide, but there is no denying that his name is parallel to the utmost kind of infamy in the United States. In 1992, he was tried and convicted on crimes of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering and sentenced to 30 years in prison (later reduced to 17 for good behavior).
And since American culture loves the bad guy, plenty of rappers have emulated his powerful dictatorship in their music. Rick Ross named his debut album Port of Miami, likening himself with the all the underworld transactions of Noriega’s empire and Victor Santiago, Jr., better known as Noreaga, has been a successful solo artist since 1998. Ross even went as far as quipping “I know Pablo, Noriega, the real Noriega/He owe me a hundred favors” on his 2006 record, “Hustlin.”
In Black Ops II, Noriega’s character is a backstabbing, snitching, traitor who turns on the American armed forces after he initially assists the CIA on a few missions.
Neither party has responded to further comment, according to the LA Times.
Check out pictures of the Noriega at the height of powerful in the gallery.
—
Photos: WENN
