The Wave of Celebrity in the HD Universe is the term used to describe the sudden influx of celebrity and gossip media in the fictional GTA World series during the HD Universe timeline.
Pop and Tabloid Culture[]
GTA IV's media is sprinkled with references to its own fictional pop culture universe, which parodies the 2000s-era wave of reality television and "famous for being famous" celebrities. Many of the celebrities have turbulent friendships or loose associations with each other, much like their real life counterparts; For example, Brody Jenner and Kim Kardashian are half-siblings, and many other celebrities are socially linked together via New York's Covenant of the Sacred Heart Catholic school.
| Heirs and Heireness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Occupation | Main Parody | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cloe Parker | Import/export heiress | Britney Spears | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jill Von Crastenburg | Banking heiress | Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate Olsen, Paris Hilton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unnamed British Prince | Royalty | Prince Harry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Princess Georgina | Royalty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January Natasha Vasquez | Drug heiress | Kim Kardashian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alfonso Vasquez Jr. | Drug heir | Rob Kardashian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lyle Cleethorpes V | Historic family heir | Josh Astor, Donald Trump Jr., David Mayer de Rothschild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carried over from 3D Universe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Occupation | Main Parody | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack Howitzer | Actor | Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Love Fist | Rock band | Mötley Crüe, Guns 'n' Roses, Iron Maiden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Willy | Rockstar | W. Axl Rose | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Madd Dogg | Rapper | Ice-T, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OG Loc | Rapper | MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lazlow | Radio host,TV Presenter | NA (as himself) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fernando Martinez | Radio host | NA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Donald Love | Businessman | Donald Trump (possibly) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Gurning Chimps | Musical group | The Happy Mondays | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cris Formage | Live performer | David Miscavige, L. Ron Hubbard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jock Cranley | Actor | Any Hollywood actors who have gone on to represent the Republican Party in government. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Classic Vinewood Artists[]
Which Grand Theft Auto V, new celebrities and artists have been introduced to the Grand Theft Auto World, including actors from classic Vinewood movies, that are no longer alive by the time of the events of the games or have fallen into decay. Some of this artists were so huge, that they even had streets or landmarks named after them.
| Name | Occupation | Main Parody |
|---|---|---|
| Miriam Turner | Actress | |
| Bill Anthony | Actor | |
| Mad Wayne Thunder | Actor | Tor Johnson |
| Ace Jones | Actor | |
| Dutch London | Actor | |
| Betsy O'Neil | Actress | |
| Mitch Dexter | Actor | |
| Pamela Drake | Actress | |
| Leonora Johnson | Actress | Elizabeth Short |
| Sam Austin | Movie Director | |
| Peter Dreyfuss | Movie Director | Roman Polanski |
| Solomon Richards | Movie Producer | Mel Brooks |
| Fred Quincy | Movie Producer/Animator | Walt Disney |
Real-life celebrities[]
Main article: Real People in GTA
Considerably more famous people in real life agreed to portray themselves in GTA IV than any previous GTA game. Almost every in-game DJ is a prominent musician or personality in real life, Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams play themselves as comedians, and Busta Rhymes also appeared on the radio as himself to promote his new album (in-game and real life).
Politicians[]
The political atmosphere of the game has a very strong sense of post-9/11 hysteria. Surprisingly, there are no references or parodies whatsoever to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, which was arguably the largest media frenzy of 2008, likely because the majority of GTA IV was completed before 2008, and well before Obama was considered a viable candidate for President.
| Name | Occupation | Main Parody |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Lawton | US President | George W Bush, Barack Obama |
| Charles Martin | Alderney Senator | Duke Cunningham, James Traficant, Webster Hubbell |
| Michael Graves | Liberty Gubernational candidate | Mark Foley |
| John Hunter | Liberty Gubernational candidate | Al Franken, Fred Thompson, Jesse Ventura |
| Thomas Stubbs III | Liberty House Representative | Kennedy family |
| Julio Ochoa | Liberty Mayor | Fernando "Freddy" Ferrer |
| Bryce Dawkins | Liberty Deputy Mayor | Larry Craig, Richard Curtis, Bob Allen |
| Jock Cranley | San Andreas Governor candidate | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump |
| Sue Murry | San Andreas Governor candidate | Hillary Clinton |