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50 CENT SUES TACO BELL OVER AD: Rapper accuses fast food chain of 'diluting the value of his good name.'
*Rapper 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, is suing the Taco Bell fast food chain for running an advertising campaign that he claims fooled customers into thinking he had endorsed the restaurant.
Filed in Manhattan federal court, the $4 million lawsuit accuses the company of circulating a letter, addressed to 50 Cent, that asks the rapper to change his name to "79 Cent," "89 Cent" or "99 Cent" in promotion of the company's "79-89-99 Cent Why Pay More" campaign, while avoiding the multimillion-dollar fee the rapper might have charged to use his name.
"Without seeking or obtaining Jackson's authorization, defendant Taco Bell made him the star and focus of its nationwide advertising campaign by using his name, persona and trademark to promote Taco Bell's business and products," court papers said, according to Reuters.
The lawsuit said the Taco Bell letter was eventually sent to the rapper, but only after it had been circulated to reporters.
"As Taco Bell intended, many customers believed that 50 Cent had agreed to endorse Taco Bell's products. Indeed, postings on numerous Internet 'blogs' castigated 50 Cent for 'selling out' by his apparent endorsement of Taco Bell," the lawsuit said.
Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for Taco Bell Corp, said, "We made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89, or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice."
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