Veteran New York rapper and TV mogul Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson claims he was offered $3 million by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign to perform at the former president’s much-criticized event at Madison Square Garden last Sunday.
50 Cent made the allegation during an appearance on Charlamagne Tha God’s popular morning show The Breakfast Club with DJ Envy.
“I got a call, but they wanted me for Sunday,” the rapper said when Envy asked about rumors regarding calls from Trump’s team about a paid endorsement.
“They offered three million dollars to do it,” 50 Cent continued. He also revealed that he was approached to perform at the Republican National Convention but declined, citing his desire to steer clear of politics.
“I didn’t even go far into it. I didn’t even want to talk to them about that kinda stuff. I’m afraid of politics,” the Power series creator said. “I do not like no part of politics. It’s no gangbanging and no politics.”
50 Cent added: “When you do get involved in it, no matter how you feel, there will always be someone who passionately disagrees with you. I stay away from religion and politics. That’s the formula for confusion that sent Kanye to Japan. He said something about both of those things and now he can only go to Japan.”
Here, 50 Cent is referring to clips showing disgraced rapper and fashion designer Kanye West living and working in Japan. West has faced significant backlash and exclusion from mainstream public life following a series of antisemitic remarks online in 2022.
“I don’t wanna get into that,” 50 Cent concluded.
The online rumors connecting 50 Cent to Donald Trump suggested that the former president wanted the rapper to perform the song “Many Men (Wish Death)” from his seminal 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ at the RNC. In the song, 50 Cent raps about his many violent enemies who wish him ill, which was allegedly linked to the attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Deadline reached out to the Trump campaign regarding Jackson’s claims but has not received a response yet. If they do respond, updates will be provided.