Topline
Rapper 50 Cent defended his viral picture with Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., following his visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, in which he advocated for more Black representation in the liquor industry, stating he took pictures with various members of Congress from both parties.
50 Cent visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday to advocate for Black representation in the liquor … [+]
Key Facts
50 Cent defended his viral photos with Boebert in a tweet Wednesday night, stating: “Wait, wait, guys i took pictures with everyone and all you seem to care about is Lauren 🤷🏽♂️what did she do in a dark theater that hasn’t been done, my God !”
The rapper’s reference to the “dark theater” likely refers to Boebert being removed from a production of “Beetlejuice” in September; video footage of the incident showed her vaping, dancing, taking photos and groping her male date during the performance.
50 Cent and Boebert had both tweeted pictures of the two posing together following his visit to Capitol Hill, which were viewed millions of times.
Boebert tweeted she would “still love you if you flipped burgers at Burger King @50Cent, I used to do that myself!”
The rapper tweeted pictures of himself with many other representatives last night spanning both parties, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.)—though none garnered as many likes and reposts as his picture with Boebert.
Key Background
50 Cent, who owns the liquor company Sire Spirits (which sells Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi champagne), made a surprise visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump to advocate for more Black representation in the liquor industry. The rapper said at a press conference following his visit that he met with leaders of both parties to discuss “economic opportunities for everybody, and it’s really exciting. The response I got makes me feel like there are bright days ahead of us.”
Tangent
50 Cent said he sees Black men “identifying with Trump” in the 2024 presidential election “because they got RICO charges,” after a reporter asked him about the significance of Black men this election cycle. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law makes it illegal to engage in racketeering activity and was passed to combat organized crime. Trump and 18 co-defendants were charged in August under the RICO law for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. 50 Cent said he has not yet decided who he will vote for in the presidential election. In 2020, the rapper appeared to endorse Trump in a tweet in which he criticized President Joe Biden’s tax plans, stating: “I don’t care Trump doesn’t like black people.” But less than a week later, he tweeted: “F— Donald Trump, I never liked him.” He previously endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Surprising Fact
50 Cent referenced his legal dispute with liquor company Suntory Global Spirits in social media posts ahead of his Capitol Hill visit. “I’m off to DC 🛫to talk to the Congressional Black Caucus about how @suntoryglobalspirits has damaged my business,” the rapper posted Wednesday. 50 Cent sued the company—which says it is the third-largest premium spirits company—alleging it overcharged his Sire Spirits business on taxes, customs and insurance, according to liquor industry publication The Drinks Business.
Further Reading
Why was 50 Cent on Capitol Hill? Rapper makes surprise visit (USA Today)
50 Cent Says Black Men Are ‘Identifying With Trump’ Over Biden (The Daily Beast)
RICO Charges: What To Know About The Organized Crime Law Used To Charge Trump And 18 Allies In Georgia (Forbes)
