Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in the 1972 classic film “The Godfather.”
Image: Unknown
The Sicilian town of Corleone has tried for years to distance itself from Mafia connections.
In the classic 1970s “Godfather” films, young Vito Andolini is forced to flee the city of Corleone. Upon arriving in the United States, Corleone takes on his new surname and builds a criminal empire.
Marlon Brando played Vito Corleone in the first “The Godfather” film in 1972 and won an Academy Award for one of the most iconic acting performances of all time.
Salvatore “Toto” Riina.
Photo: ANSA/EPA/TT/EPA TT
The mafia boss's son revolted.
Salvatore “Toto” Riina, nicknamed “The Beast,” led the feared mafia faction, the Corleone family. Riina, who is believed to have ordered an estimated 150 murders, died in prison in 2017.
After spending eight years in prison, mob boss Salvuccio Riina's son returned to Corleone last year to live there. The local government tried in vain to have it rescinded to protect the city from “damage to its reputation.”
Now Rina has caused a stir during her Italian Ferragosto holiday. Taking to social media, Rina wished all her followers a great time during the holiday – and addressed the post from “Via Scorsone 24, Corleone, Italy”.
The Riina family lived at this address for years. But in 2018 the street was renamed Via Terranova in honor of Judge Cesare Terranova, who was murdered in 1979 by the Corleone family.
The city of Corleone in Sicily.
Image: Wikimedia
“despicable attack”
Corleone Mayor Walter Ra condemned Riina's reference to the city's dark past as “cowardly” and said she would not give in to that kind of pressure.
“We won’t let this happen,” Walter Rae says. “We’ve turned the page and no one can change that.”
“We strongly disassociate ourselves from this type of statement and condemn what appears to be a vile attack on the state and its institutions.”the local council writes in a press release.
It is written that Riina's son's statements “reinforce the negative and distorted image of Corleone and distort the community's efforts to rid itself of a reputation associated with the Mafia and crime.”
“Corleone is not the Mafia. Corleone is history, culture, freedom, but above all, Corleone respects the law.”The local council writes.
Riina later deleted “Via Scorsone” from the post.
“Unapologetic writer. Bacon enthusiast. Introvert. Evil troublemaker. Friend of animals everywhere.”
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