Taco Bell to 50 Cent: You're a Gangsta Wannabe

E! Online, Nov 20, 2008 4:00 pm PST
Taco Bell is using fightin' words in its latest beef with 50 Cent, calling him out as "a self-described former drug dealer and hustler" and otherwise faux gangsta.

In July the rapper, otherwise known as Curtis Jackson, sued the fast food chain for $4 million for trademark infringement after the company wrote an open letter asking the star to find a little loose change and make his name 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent for one day in honor of Taco Bell's value menu. In return, the chalupa slingers would send $10,000 to Fiddy's favorite charity. 

Now the burrito bunch is filing a federal lawsuit of their own, calling the previous suit "another of Jackson's attempts to burnish his gangsta rapper persona by distorting beyond all recognition the bona fide, good faith offer that Taco Bell made."

The lawyer for Taco Bell also claims the company's letter falls under the free speech protection outlined in the First Amendment and writes, "Jackson has used his colorful past to cultivate a public image of belligerence and arrogance and has a well-publicized track record of making threats, starting feuds and filing lawsuits."

Not surprisingly, Fiddy's attorney is downplaying the action, wondering "why they would decide to use his name in their ad campaign if they think he's such a bad character."

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