- Ellen Faces H8ters, Aniston Angry, Bourne's Back, Woody Burned
- RDJ's Baby, Spider Man, New Girl, Kristen Bell's Cupcakes
- Super Bowl Scandal, Gisele Unhappy, Pitt Admits Secrets, Social Gaga
- Madonna's Super Bowl, Demi In Rehab, Wiig On SNL
- Glee Do MJ, LiLo Denial, Brad Pitt On Oscars, SJP's Face
- Drew Barrymore Adopts, Snooki's Pregnancy, Hunger Games
50 Cent Vs Taco Bell: Fast Food Chain Attacks
November 21st, 2008
US fast food chain Taco Bell has gone on the attack against a lawsuit from 50 Cent, filing a trash-talking countersuit against the rapper, stating he has a “colorful” past and is a “self-described former drug dealer and hustler.”
50 Cent initially filed a $4 million trademark infringement suit against the food chain, after it sent out an open letter asking him to temporarily change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent by rapping his order in the drive thru of any Taco Bell, in exchange for the donation of $10,000 to the charity of his choice.
The rapper, born Curtis Jackson, was unhappy with the company using his name for promotional purposes saying, “when my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: ‘We messed with the bull and got the horns.’ ”
In a countersuit filed Thursday (November 20), Taco Bell states, “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.
“At the same time, Jackson holds himself out as a giver to charity and one who wants to give back to his community. This lawsuit is another of Jackson’s attempts to burnish his gangsta rapper persona by distorting beyond all recognition a bona fide, good faith offer that Taco Bell made to Jackson.”
Peter Raymond, an attorney for the rapper, released a statement to MTV News saying:
“Mr. Jackson filed this lawsuit to protect his valuable trademark and privacy rights against infringers like Taco Bell, who seek to make money using his name without his permission. Mr. Jackson intends to demonstrate that Taco Bell and its affiliated companies have used this same infringing tactic before by issuing press releases using other celebrities’ names, such as Rihanna, Chris Brown, Fergie and Paris Hilton.
Mr. Jackson believes that Taco Bell needs to be stopped. With this recent court filing, Taco Bell has not only misappropriated Mr. Jackson’s name, but they have now defamed his character in a desperate attempt to defend their improper actions. Mr. Jackson intends to vigorously pursue this case.”
Read the court documents obtained by TMZ here.
