*Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson didn’t mince words when he questioned Jay-Z’s appearance at the “Mustafa: The Lion King” premiere on Monday, mere hours after shocking allegations of child rape were filed against the music mogul.
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Tony Buzbee on behalf of “Jane Doe,” alleges that Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.
Combs, currently jailed on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, was the sole defendant in the original filing. Jay-Z, 55, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “blackmail” and “idiotic.”
Despite the serious accusations, Jay-Z stepped onto the red carpet alongside his wife, Beyoncé, and daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. The family attended the event in full force, with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy both voicing characters in the Disney film, set for release on December 20. Beyoncé portrays Nala, while Blue Ivy takes on the role of young lioness Kiara.
Somebody said, “50 reminds us every single day why he got shot 9 times” 😭 pic.twitter.com/95XUaFikSb
— sinneD 🎭 (@dennis_k_g) December 10, 2024
50 Cent seized the moment with a since-deleted Instagram post, sharing a photo of Jay-Z at the premiere and writing:
“Jay said they said I rapped a kid, everybody get dressed we going to see Mustafa. LOL. [sic]” The rapper’s snide remark quickly sparked backlash and discussion online. On X (formerly Twitter), 50 Cent doubled down, posting, “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 [sic].”
The latter comment alluded to Jay-Z’s ongoing role as the producer of the Super Bowl halftime show, featuring Kendrick Lamar in 2025.
Sources close to the situation told the NY Post that Jay-Z and Beyoncé were initially rumored to skip the premiere but made a last-minute decision to attend. Their appearance was widely interpreted as a defiant response to the lawsuit and an attempt to stay in control of the narrative.
Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, dismissed the lawsuit as a baseless “shakedown,” accusing Buzbee of attempting to extort a financial settlement through mediation. Spiro clarified that Jay-Z is not a suspect or person of interest in the criminal investigation involving Combs.
For his part, Buzbee has fired back, rejecting the extortion claims as “stupid and laughable.” He emphasized that the mediation request was meant to keep the matter private, not as a veiled threat.
While Jay-Z’s legal team prepares to counter the allegations in court, the timing of his red-carpet appearance has drawn mixed reactions. Critics have questioned his decision to attend the family-friendly event so soon after the allegations surfaced, while supporters argue it was a calculated move to project confidence.
As “Mustafa: The Lion King” gears up for its release, the scandal surrounding Jay-Z looms large, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebration of his family’s artistic achievements.
Whether this case unfolds in court or fizzles out in settlement talks, the repercussions for Jay-Z’s reputation—and his business empire—remain to be seen.
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