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50 Cent Files Taco Bell Lawsuit

50 Cent's legal team has filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell, saying he never agreed to endorse their value menu. In a recent commercial, the company suggests the rapper change his name to "79 Cent," "89 Cent" or "99 Cent"—the three price points in their new promotion.

"We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change," the commercial says. "We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates for change. We encourage you to 'Think Outside the Bun' and hope you accept our offer."

Fiddy didn't accept it … at all. Speaking to Angie Martinez of Hot 97 in June, he said, "I guess they did that for promotional purposes. It's not good that they did that … [People profiting off you] gets uncomfortable at some point, especially when corporations do it to you."

50 Cent's legal papers—which reportedly seek $4 million in damages—stated his case as thus: "Without seeking or obtaining Jackson's authorization, defendant Taco Bell made him the star and focus of its nationwide advertising campaign by using his name, persona and trademark to promote Taco Bell's business and products."

And Taco Bell's response, according to spokesman Rob Poetsch? "We made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89 or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make [a] $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice."

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
07.24.08