Rappers, Red Carpets, and Allegations: 50 Cent Jabs Jay-Z Amid Controversy
Hip-hop titan Jay-Z found himself in the eye of a storm this week, attending the premiere of Mustafa: The Lion King alongside his family, while facing explosive allegations from a newly filed lawsuit. Fellow rapper 50 Cent wasted no time weighing in, throwing a digital jab that set social media buzzing.
The Allegations Surface
On Sunday, December 8, an amended lawsuit accused Jay-Z—real name Shawn Carter—of raping a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000, a claim Carter has emphatically denied as “blackmail” and “idiotic.” The filing also implicated fellow mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently behind bars facing sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Combs denies the allegations.
50 Cent’s Swipe and Social Media Stir
On Monday night, December 9, Jay-Z attended Disney’s Mustafa: The Lion King premiere with his wife, Beyoncé, and their daughter, Blue Ivy—both of whom lend their voices to the film. The red-carpet appearance drew sharp commentary from 50 Cent, known for his relentless social media trolling. In a since-deleted Instagram post, Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) quipped, “Jay said they said I rapped a kid, everybody get dressed we going to see Mustafa. LOL. [sic]”
The criticism didn’t stop there. 50 Cent took to X (formerly Twitter) to question Jay-Z’s involvement with the upcoming 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, which Carter is producing. “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],” he posted.
A Lawsuit and a Strong Denial
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Tony Buzbee on behalf of an accuser known as “Jane Doe.” The filing alleges Carter’s involvement alongside Combs. In response, Jay-Z’s attorney Alex Spiro vehemently denied the claims, calling them part of a “shakedown.” Spiro stated that Carter is not a person of interest in the investigation against Combs, and that the suit is a bid for financial extortion.
Spiro also countered with a lawsuit against Buzbee, accusing him of attempting to “extort exorbitant sums” with false allegations.
Buzbee, however, stood firm. In a statement to Time, he called the extortion accusation “stupid and laughable,” asserting that his client had never sought a payout. “Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened,” Buzbee said.
The Industry Reacts
The controversy has fueled online debates, with 50 Cent’s remarks amplifying tensions in the hip-hop community. Known for his long history of needling fellow artists, Jackson’s comments once again blurred the line between commentary and provocation.
As the allegations play out in court, all eyes remain on Jay-Z’s next move—and whether the Super Bowl Halftime Show will proceed without disruption. Meanwhile, Mustafa: The Lion King opens with an unexpected cloud of controversy hanging over its star family’s premiere.
