Academy Awards list:
The full list of Oscar nominations for the 94th Academy Awards! See if your favorites made the cut for a chance at glory.
discussingfilm.net
Plenty of stories based on huge cultural events didn't get approval from the people it's based on. If it's a cultural event and you are a public figure, it's fair game.
The movie
Vice is a good example of what i'm talking about. The absolutely did not contact Dick Cheney to get his approval or in any of the OJ Simpson doc's they don't consult with OJ. The only difference is people don't like Cheney or OJ, but that doesn't make it any different. Just because you may like someone doesn't mean it's any different than Pam & Tommy.
Also, remember Season 2 of Tiger King last year? Carole Baskin said she didn't want to be in it, they put her in it anyway because they can, and people watched it. The upcoming Joe vs. Carole series on Peacock is the same, as is the movie with the Tiger King movie with Nic Cage playing Joe Exotic. As far as i've been able to tell, they have not been consulted about those things at all, nor will they profit. Their story is of public interest and they are known figures, which is why things like this can happen without consultation.