50 Cent, Lionsgate, Starz and Others Beat $1 Billion ‘Power’ Defamation Claims

A live performance from 50 Cent, who, along with Lionsgate and others, has emerged victorious in long-running litigation centering on ‘Powers.’ Photo Credit: Gwendolyn Lee

50 Cent has topped three related lawsuits, seeking $1 billion in damages for alleged defamation and more, dating back to 2021.The rapper and entrepreneur took to social media to tout the victory, consisting in part of a motion to dismiss with prejudice and a motion for summary judgement.

For a bit of quick background, a Michigan-based pro se plaintiff named Cory “Ghost” Holland Sr. was levying a trio of distinct complaints against 50 Cent as well as Starz, Lionsgate, and television writer Courtney Kemp.

The first concerned alleged defamation on the part of all defendants, the second involved assault claims against 50 Cent over alleged threats, and the third took aim at Lionsgate and Starz over their employment of the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ artist.

Kemp and 50 Cent created Power for Starz, which aired 63 episodes of the commercially successful program between 2014 and 2020. And in the interest of brevity, the plaintiff, who by his own admission “ran a billion dollar [drug] empire, but couldn’t live like a billionaire,” claimed that he’d met Kemp’s father in the 1990s.That was during the plaintiff’s “empire” phase, per the amended complaints, and the defendant Kemp (as well as her father) allegedly learned about the filing party’s “entire life story.” These discussions allegedly culminated with a 2007 CD and “investment package” sent by the plaintiff, ostensibly looking to get out of his unlawful line of work, to the Kemps.

Fast forward to 2021, however, and Holland Sr. had allegedly put his empire days in the “distant past.” But this purported effort to turn a new leaf was disrupted when the defendants allegedly based Power off the plaintiff’s own life story without permission.

Ultimately, third parties allegedly approached Holland Sr. “convinced the shows [sic] was not only about him, but it was actually a non-fiction story about his real life.” Thus, among different things, Power allegedly damaged the reputation of the plaintiff, who said he’d delayed suing due to a long recovery from injuries sustained in a 2018 car accident.

As mentioned at the outset, Judge Analisa Torres has adopted another judge’s May report and recommendation, thereby dismissing each of the years-running claims despite the plaintiff’s objections. In doing so, the court agreed with the months-old findings, which had identified multiple failures to satisfy basic criteria (stating a claim, demonstrating actual malice, and more) in the actions.

Consequently, the cases are in the rearview for 50 Cent, who is nevertheless fending off separate actions. Meanwhile, the New York City native and Lionsgate, far from ending their professional relationship, kicked off August by unveiling a new ad-supported TV platform.