50 Cent sues Taco Bell over ad campaign

07/24/2008 6:00 AM, AP
Samuel Maull

NEW YORK (AP) — 50 Cent has sued Taco Bell, claiming the fast-food restaurant chain is using his name without permission in advertising that asks him to call himself 99 Cent.

The rapper says in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that the Mexican-themed chain features him in a print ad asking him to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. His real name is Curtis Jackson.

The rapper's court papers say the ad is part of Taco Bell's "Why Pay More?" campaign, which promotes items for under a dollar, including Cinnamon Twists for 79 cents, Crunchy Tacos for 89 cents and Bean Burritos for 99 cents. The papers say the Irvine, Calif.-based company sent a bogus letter requesting the name change to the news media but not to the rapper.

The rapper's lawyer, Peter D. Raymond, said his client didn't learn about the letter or that he was featured in the ad campaign until he saw a news report about it. Raymond said his client is seeking $4 million in damages.


I haven't seen the slip, but if a commercial has a line that says....'you don't want to be stuck between a rock and a hard place(and shows a photo of Dwayne- THE ROCK - Johnson scowling and a concrete wall)..should Dwayne be able to sue?

So referring to 50 Cent and showing HIS photo-if this is part of it- is there cause for harm,defamation?


PLUS, I thought e was FIDDY CENT ANYWAY???!

What an idiot.

$4M???

If Max Moseley only gets £60k, then methinks 50c should get.. well, 50c?  (if he does, should he change his name to $1?)

I award him 50 cents!
:D