NEWS50 Cent Sues Taco Bell
July 24 2008, Published 4:00 a.m. ET
Taco Bell better make a run for the border -- 50 Cent has sued the fast food chain for using his monetary moniker in advertisements without his approval.
The 32-year-old rapper filed a federal lawsuit in regards to Taco Bell's "Why Pay More?" campaign that asks Fiddy to change his stage name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. 50 claims the the restaurant never informed him of the marketing ploy and is seeking $4 million in damages.
The Mexican-themed restaurant launched the campaign, which promotes food for under a dollar, in June and sent out press releases challenging 50 (real name: Curtis Jackson) to "think outside the bun."
"We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change. We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates for change," Taco Bell CEO and President Greg Creed wrote. "We encourage you to 'Think Outside the Bun' and hope you accept our offer."
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Greg also pledged to donate $10,000 to a charity of 50's choice if he took Taco Bell up on the offer.
However, according to the Grammy winner's attorney, Peter D. Raymond, Taco Bell never asked 50 for permission to use his name and he himself did not find out about it until he saw a news report on the campaign.
Suffice it to say, he was not amused, telling OK! last month the campaign is "sleazy and ill conceived."
"This is a sleazy and ill-conceived publicity stunt by Taco Bell's president, Greg Creed, whose disingenuous offer was leaked to the press before it was even presented to 50 Cent's agent yesterday," a rep for 50 Cent told OK!.
Fiddy himself added,"When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: 'We messed with the bull and got the horns!'"
