Earlier this summer, 50 Cent claimed in an Instagram post that he sold his catchphrase "Get The Strap" to Bellator for a million dollars.
Not long after he did, HipHopDX published a quote from a Bellator spokesman denying there was a deal. This enraged 50, who called HipHopDX fake news and sued the website for using an unauthorized photo of him.
Now HipHopDX is countersuing for defamation, standing by their reporting that 50 made up the million dollar sale. Here's a part of their suit:
“The celebrity known as 50 Cent has maliciously used his power and influence to falsely attack a small, independent media company for its unfavorable but entirely truthful content,” the lawsuit claims. “In late June 2018, it exposed as false certain public statements made by 50 Cent claiming to have sold the rights to a three-word catchphrase for a million dollars.
False attacks by celebrities and public figures on journalists and media companies, branding them as ‘fake news,’ have become a powerful weapon for pulling readers away from otherwise respected sources. These are not merely political or public relations issues for media companies. Rather, they are attacks on a business and constitute classic defamation – false assertions to the public that are intended to, and do, damage a person or company in their professional reputation.”
HipHopDX is also arguing that 50 can't sue them over the photo because he didn't own it when they published it and “allegedly obtained the rights to [the photo] for the sole purpose of bringing this lawsuit.”
The website wants $3 million in total damages from Fif.
50 might want to think about settling this one because a lawsuit based on how much he makes stuff up could be damaging if he has to testify under oath.