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*The NYPD is looking into a formal complaint filed against 50 Cent after he shared a post on Instagram that allegedly appeared to threaten a cop.
According to Page Six, the since-deleted post from Wednesday (May 23) included his new catchphrase “Get the strap,” (strap meaning gun), which he used in reference to NYPD Deputy Inspector Emmanuel Gonzalez, head of the 72nd Precinct. It was an apparent response to allegations that Gonzalez was squeezing the owner of Love & Lust, a hip-hop club within the precinct’s Sunset Park confines. When tens of thousands of 50’s fans piled on — repeating “Get the strap” against Gonzalez, and worse — the precinct boss filed an NYPD complaint against the rapper, saying he feared for his safety.
“There is a formal complaint on file for aggravated harassment and detectives are investigating,” the NYPD said Thursday in a statement.
The rapper’s rep gave a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that attempted to paint “Get the Strap” as nothing more than a “playful phrase.”
“Months ago, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson filed to trademark the phrase ‘Get The Strap,’ a slogan he has been posting across all of his social media platforms,” the statement read. “It is posted in connection with photographs and videos, including many featuring just him or things he is promoting.”
The statement continued: “Taken in its proper context, the specific post in question was neither intended as, nor could reasonably be interpreted as, a threat or call to violence against anyone. So the record is clear, Mr. Jackson does not condone or promote the use of violence against anyone. ‘Get The Strap’ is a playful phrase used by Mr. Jackson to punctuate absurd and outrageous situations.”
Following news of the complaint, 50 Cent shared a pic of the report, with the caption, “Oh sh*t, get the strap. LOL. they investigating my drip, l got too much sauce. #HipHop.”
As the story was picked up by other media, 50 posted screengrabs and clapbacks, each time repeating the phrase that got him in trouble.
“What the f— is going on?” he posted next to a grab of Pix 11’s broadcast on the story. “Get the strap. LOL.”
He also posted a screen grab of his federal patent application to trademark the phrase.
“So here’s the trademark, investigation over,” he wrote of the application, taunting the NYPD, “Back to fight crime alright guys. Get the strap.”
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