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*Rapper 50 Cent is reportedly planning to sue the mother of his 11-year-old son for defamation, claiming she's telling people that he masterminded the fire that destroyed the Long Island home at the center of their legal fight.
"There comes a point where you can no longer sit on your hands and listen to her spread these falsehoods," 50's lawyer, Brett Kimmel, tells New York Daily News column Rush & Malloy of Shaniqua Tompkins. "Besides hurting his reputation, they have a damaging impact on their son."
At the time of the fire, the Dix Hills residence was occupied by Tompkins and Marquise, her 11-year-old son with 50. Arson investigators called the blaze "suspicious," but Tompkins took things a step further and blamed 50 for orchestrating the whole incident.
"He tried to kill me and his own child," Tompkins told reporters after the fire. "I know this came from 50 Cent."
In the defamation complaint – currently being drafted, according to Kimmel – 50 also charges that Tompkins has refused to let him see Marquise or tell him where he's living ever since the fire. Tompkins has "made it practically impossible" for 50 to speak to or see his son, according to a petition filed this week in Suffolk County Family Court.
When 50 learned Marquise's cell phone was destroyed in the fire, the rap star sent him a new one, along with a duffle bag of new clothes. Tompkins has "failed and refused to give the cell phone to Marquise," 50 alleges. "The only way [50] can communicate with his son is to call [Tompkins'] cell phone. On June 11 ... [she] did permit [50] to speak with his son. However ... she was hovering over Marquise, monitoring the conversation and, after a short while, she interrupted the conversation by taking the phone from Marquise and began yelling at [50]," who eventually hung up on her.
The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, also seeks a court order that allows him to see his son.
In other 50 news, Taco Bell is offering to make a $10,000 donation to a charity of his choice if he agrees to change his name to either 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent for one day this summer.
The moniker change would promote the fast food chain's new "Why Pay More" value menu. As part of the deal, 50 would also have to appear at a Taco Bell location and rap his order in the drive thru with his new name. So far, 50's camp has not responded.