March 18, 2016

After the rapper,  “50 Cent” posted pictures of himself with piles of cash on social media , the bankruptcy judge called him back to court to elaborate on why he has filed bankruptcy. The rapper, whose given name is Curtis J. Jackson, has previously stated that he makes millions of dollars, but he claims that he is embroiled in costly lawsuits that are draining him financially.

The photos, posted on Instagram, show him surrounded by stacks of $100 bills, which could easily total $50,000. He posted another picture that used the bills to write out “B-R-O-K-E.” As a result,  U.S. Bankruptcy  Judge Ann M. Nevins fears that he is defrauding the court. In February 2016, she expressed her concerns as she told his lawyer that she wondered about his honesty in the case. She further stated that the bankruptcy process as a whole should be transparent for all involved parties and that  struggling debtors can find relief  from the court. She added that since he is a public figure, the need for transparency increases.

His attorney responded that Mr. Jackson would appear in court to answer the judge’s concerns and emphasized his openness in the case. Three of the claimants, including an ex-girlfriend, SunTrust Bank and Sleek Audio, claim that the rapper owes them a total of $29 million.

The trio filed court documents in January, claiming that the rapper has posted performance photos where he was likely paid, but they do not believe that he has reported those earnings to the court. They further questioned the existence of a home in Africa as documented by yet another Instagram photo where the star bragged about a housewarming party. Court documents further question the value of the “50 Cent” trademark, which was again hidden from the court.

The rapper rose to fame after his 2003 album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ ”

Social media often plays a role in various court cases, including divorce, civil proceedings and bankruptcy. Our firm recommends that you limit posting on social media while your case is in process to avoid jeopardizing your case. For further information, contact our legal team.