
(LOL!) Apparently Taco Bell thinks that Rapper 50 Cent belongs on the Value Menu– with a higher price tag than his name implies, up to 49 cents more, to be exact.
Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent has sued Taco Bell, claiming the fast-food restaurant chain is using his name without permission in a “witty” print advertising.
The rapper says in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that the Mexican-themed chain features him in a print ad asking him to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent, as part of Taco Bell’s “Why Pay More?” campaign, which promotes items for under a dollar, including Cinnamon Twists for 79 cents, Crunchy Tacos for 89 cents and Bean Burritos for 99 cents.
The papers say the Irvine, Calif.-based company sent a letter requesting the name change to the news media without asking the rappers permission.
The rapper’s lawyer, Peter D. Raymond, said his client didn’t learn about the letter or that he was featured in the ad campaign until he saw a news report about it. Raymond said his client is seeking $4 million in damages.
Taco Bell Corp. spokesman Rob Poetsch issued a statement saying: “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.”
Personally I’m with Jackson on this one, the rapper has a plethora of very lucrative product campaigns including his own signature Vitamin Water titled “Formula 50″, and surely does not need Taco Bell to donate 10,000 to a charity for him, in lieu of poorly chosen advertising.