Rapper 50 Cent Sues Taco Bell Over 99 Cent Ad Campaign
Rapper 50 Cent is suing Taco Bell for using his name without permission in an ad campaign that suggests he should add as much as 39 cents to his name.
The ad campaign promoting Taco Bell’s value menu suggests 50 Cent should change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent, the respective prices of its Cinnamon Twists, Crunchy Tacos and Bean Burritos, the Associated Press reports.
The suit filed in Manhattan federal court says the restaurant sent a letter to the media suggesting the name change, leading many customers to believe 50 Cent had endorsed Taco Bell products. The complaint alleges the restaurant made 50 Cent the center of its ad campaign without his permission and without paying a fee, Reuters reports.
Taco Bell spokesman Rob Poetsch issued a statement that reads: ”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.”
