50 Cent Sues Jeweler for $5 Million for Misappropriating His Likeness on Knock-Off Chains
Photo Credit: 50 Cent on MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME / CC by 3.0
50 Cent has sued popular celebrity jeweler TraxNYC for $5 million, alleging he misappropriated the rapper’s likeness to sell knock-off chains. The media mogul and musician is suing the jeweler for trademark infringement and violating his right of publicity after the jeweler made a series of TikToks appearing to suggest that 50 Cent was affiliated with the chains.
TraxNYC, whose real name is Maksud Trax Agadjani, made numerous social media posts featuring pictures of 50 Cent wearing jewelry, and tagging him in the captions. In one video, Trax even seems to taunt the rapper, saying, “We just jocked your style. I know you watch my videos and now I’m watching your shit and jocking your shit, just like you jocked my shit.”
Before filing the lawsuit, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, warned the jeweler on social media, “This was a bad idea; you will regret doing this, I promise.” A representative for the rapper said in a statement, “Mr. Jackson takes the unauthorized use of his name and likeness for commercial purposes very seriously.”
Jackson also commented on the lawsuit on his Instagram, “Every now and then, someone does something like this. I don’t know why, but I do know I’ma need that by Monday.”Since the lawsuit was filed, Trax made a public plea to Jackson to drop the suit, saying, “A cross is meant for forgiveness, redemption, forgiveness of sins. Forgive, forget, let it go, brother.”
But 50 was not so easily swayed, replying, “Let me think about it. Nah, you tried to play with me! You know the vibes by Monday.”
“This fool took my custom piece, copied it, then posted this seven hours ago using my likeness to sell them,” said Jackson in a post with a picture of the chains the jeweler was attempting to sell. “He must don’t know how this works. If he talks to a lawyer, they would tell him this is not good.”
The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial, but amounting to no less than $5 million.
