50 Cent found himself in hot water after posting a flirty photo with controversial Congresswoman Lauren Boebert during a trip to Washington, D.C.
The rapper, known for his blunt style, was visiting the capital on June 5 to mingle with politicians from both sides of the aisle. As part of his trip, he posted an Instagram picture with Boebert, captioning it: “Lauren Boebert, Colorado Republican making the White House look good 😉.”
This didn’t sit well with many of 50’s fans, given Boebert’s controversial stances and past actions, such as spreading QAnon conspiracy theories, opposing same-sex marriage, and making inflammatory remarks about Muslims. Fans were quick to voice their disapproval. One commented, ‘But why would you even take a picture with this embarrassment to Congress?’ Another added, ‘Wow, 50. First time in my life that I feel embarrassed for you.’
In response to the backlash, 50 Cent defended his actions through another Instagram post, clarifying that he posed for pictures with numerous people during his visit. He wrote, ‘Wait, wait, guys I took pictures with everyone and all you seem to care about is Lauren. What did she do in a dark theater that hasn’t been done, my God!’ He also crudely added, ‘Hey I don’t have chlamydia by the way. LOL.’ This remark referenced Boebert’s incident at a performance of Beetlejuice: The Musical, where she was caught inappropriately groping her companion. She later apologized for her behavior, noting, ‘I was laughing, I was singing, having a fantastic time, was told to kinda settle it down a little bit, which I did, but then, my next slip up was taking a picture. I was a little too eccentric … I’m on the edge of a lot of things.’
50 Cent’s trip to Congress wasn’t just about photo ops. He was there alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump to advocate for more Black ownership in the alcoholic drinks industry. The discussion reportedly focused on issues like the Black wealth agenda, the widening wealth gap, and the marginalization of Black-owned companies by corporate America.
In a related issue, Crump has joined 50 Cent’s legal team in a battle against Beam Suntory, whom the rapper has accused of embezzling millions from his Sire Spirits brand through unpaid invoices. Despite heading to mediation last summer, a resolution has not been reached, leading 50 Cent to continue his public criticisms of the drinks giant on social media.
50 Cent’s visit to Washington, intended to address significant issues like Black business ownership, took an unexpected turn with the controversial photo. Whether or not the backlash will impact his advocacy efforts remains to be seen.
