NEW YORK Rapper 50 Cent has followed through on a threat to sue Taco Bell over what he called a “sleazy and ill-conceived publicity stunt” in June.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court here, 50 Cent is alleging that Taco Bell used his name without permission in an ad asking him to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent during a one-day promotion for the chain’s Why Pay More value menu.
The offer was for 50 Cent to visit one of the chain’s drive-thru windows and rap his order using those names. If he agreed, the chain said it would donate $10,000 to the charity of his choice and feed everyone at the restaurant for free.
50 Cent alleges in the lawsuit that Taco Bell used his name without permission. When the offer was made, a spokesman for the rapper called it a “disingenuous offer” that was leaked to the media before 50 Cent saw it.
The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, is seeking $4 million in damages.
In a statement about the lawsuit, Taco Bell said it had “made a good faith, charitable offer” to 50 Cent and that the chain would have been “very pleased” to donate $10,000 to a charity of his choice.
Taco Bell is a division of Yum! Brands Inc. with nearly 5,600 U.S. units.
