50 Cent has weighed in on the recent lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault, with a typically sarcastic post on Instagram. Following the news that the two moguls were named in a civil lawsuit alleging they raped a 13 year old girl in 2000, 50 Cent shared a post that read:
“Ok, I don’t know what’s going on, but are we gonna still have the Super Bowl? I’m just asking for a friend!”
This comment, posted with his trademark mix of humor and provocation, comes after several months of 50 Cent questioning Jay-Z’s involvement in Diddy’s ongoing legal troubles.The rivalry between 50 Cent and Jay-Z dates back to the late 1990s, when 50 released his infamous track “How To Rob,” which called out Jay-Z and other prominent figures in the rap industry. Though their feud has simmered at times, it reignited over the summer, when 50 revealed that he and Diddy were never close, dismissing any rumors of a friendship. “I’ve never been to a Diddy party. Me and Diddy were never cool like that,” he said in interviews, continuing his ongoing trolling of Combs amid the latter’s mounting legal problems, which began to surface in 2023.
In addition to his online jabs at Diddy, 50 Cent has made subtle references to Jay-Z’s influence behind the scenes, particularly during the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show. In an interview with Cam’ron, 50 explained how Jay-Z allegedly played a role in keeping him from being part of the initial promotional lineup for the high-profile event. “The NFL has no issues with me,” he said. “I knew what ol’ boy [Jay-Z] was doing with the Super Bowl. He was doing some wild stuff, Cam, because he was saying to Em and them that the NFL had the issue with me. And I’m like, ‘Well, what’s the issue? Why don’t they have an issue when I’m becoming a partner with the actual teams? But they have an issue with my performance? It makes no sense.’” This comment revealed the deepening tension between the two, with 50 cent suggesting that Jay-Z was using his power to influence the NFL’s decisions about his involvement.
The legal landscape around Jay-Z and Diddy has become more complicated with the re-filing of a civil lawsuit against both men, accusing them of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl at an after-party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous woman identified only as “Jane Doe,” claims that she was assaulted by both men, with an unnamed female celebrity allegedly standing by and witnessing the attack without intervening. The lawsuit has received widespread media attention, given the high-profile nature of the two defendants.
Jay-Z immediately responded to the lawsuit by denying the claims and labeling it an extortion attempt. In a public statement, Jay-Z said, “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!” Jay-Z continued by imploring that the accuser file a criminal complaint, rather than pursuing the case through a civil lawsuit. “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
The timing of the lawsuit has raised questions about the motivations behind it and the potential for damage to the reputations of Jay-Z and Diddy, both of whom are long-standing figures in the music industry. As the case moves forward, it is likely to remain a topic of public and media scrutiny, especially given the level of influence both men hold in entertainment and business circles. The public’s perception of both moguls could shift dramatically depending on the outcome of this case and any further revelations that emerge.
In a twist of irony, 50 Cent himself faced allegations of sexual assault in May, when his ex-girlfriend Daphne Joy accused him of assaulting her. The accusations led to a defamation lawsuit from 50 Cent, but the case was dropped in September after Joy retracted her claims. As 50 Cent continues to publicly mock both Jay-Z and Diddy, his own legal entanglements remind us that the world of celebrity, power, and accusations is never as straightforward as it seems.
With the legal battles unfolding for both Jay-Z and Diddy, and 50 Cent continuing to stir the pot, the music industry’s top moguls are now all under a much closer microscope than ever before. The fallout from these lawsuits, particularly the claims of sexual assault, will likely continue to dominate headlines and could reshape their careers and legacies in ways we have yet to see.
