As Netflix releases its series Griselda, the public (re)discovers an iconic figure in the history of drug trafficking, Griselda Blanco. But why was she nicknamed the Black Widow?
Actress Sofia Vergara donned the costume of the famous godmother for the Netflix series, in the same tone as Narcos or Mexico. And we have to admit that the fictionalized biopic of the frightening Griselda Blanco works like a charm.
We know that the public appreciates stories about big drug traffickers: from Breaking Bad to Narcos, the spectators are always there. Netflix has therefore proposed a new series of six episodes, alternating between biopic and fiction, to cover the history and feats of arms of a terrifying figure in the field.
Griselda Blanco had many nicknames: Madrina, the queen of cocaine, the drug baroness… but also the Black Widow. This last name, however, has nothing to do with its “area of expertise” . So where does it come from?
Why is Griselda Blanco nicknamed the Black Widow?
Griselda Blanco was known, among other things, as the Black Widow because she is said to have killed – or ordered the death of – each of her husbands.
During her life, the drug trafficker had three husbands, and four children were born from these unions. Three of them were from her first marriage to husband Carlos Trujillo, while the couple resided in Medellín, Colombia. All three were born before she reached the age of 21.
Few other details are known about their marriage, and the circumstances surrounding Carlos Trujillo’s death – or possible assassination – remain unclear.
Griselda Blanco’s second husband was Alberto Bravo, who allegedly involved her in the Colombian drug market. At the start of the Netflix series, we see Griselda (Sofia Vergara) fleeing Medellín to go to Miami. From the second episode, we learn that she killed Alberto, although this has never been proven in reality.
Griselda Blanco came to believe that Alberto Bravo was stealing money from her, and a shootout between the couple resulted in her death. It was at this point that her nickname Black Widow began to take hold.
Regarding her third husband, Darío Sepúlveda, he was allegedly killed after Griselda Blanco paid someone to take care of him. The couple had a son, Michael Corleone Blanco, named after the film The Godfather. When Sepúlveda left Blanco in 1983 to return to Medellín – the couple having met in Miami – he kidnapped Michael during custody disputes.
Griselda Blanco was eventually imprisoned for murder – but not for that of her husbands. While serving her sentence, she was also charged with three counts of first-degree murder by the State of Florida. Jorge “Rivi” Ayala, the godmother’s trusted hitman, indeed testified against her.
The Griselda series has been available on Netflix since January 25, 2024.
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