Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office: GTA 6 Criticism Was About Public Facilities, Not Private Promotions

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office said Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz's criticism of the Grand Theft Auto promotion was focused on the proposed use of publicly owned facilities and infrastructure to promote Grand Theft Auto 6, according to pcgamer.com. A representative said her concerns addressed the message conveyed through the use of those public assets and were not directed at promotional decisions by private businesses or organizations.

The statement follows the Miami Heat's involvement in the Night in Vice City promotion, which rebrands the Kaseya Center and the team in Vice City livery for one night.

September remarks and the Miami Beach vote

In September, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz called Grand Theft Auto a videogame franchise built around criminal activity and described its fictional world as including murder, robbery, drug trafficking, carjacking and violence against law enforcement.

That same month, the City of Miami Beach voted to approve a "discreet" campaign tied to the Grand Theft Auto 6 promotion.

The Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat, erected a large "Welcome to Vice City" sign on its roof, visible to travelers flying into Miami International Airport.

In October, the Miami Heat became directly involved through the Night in Vice City campaign, a one-night-only promotion rebranding the arena and team in Vice City livery. Vice City and Leonida, the fictional city and state in Grand Theft Auto 6, are largely based on Miami and Florida.