Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is having a good laugh over the latest claims that his hugely popular Power franchise was stolen from the life story of a former drug kingpin. After a New York District Judge, Hon. Analisa Torres, dismissed the lawsuit filed by Cory "Ghost" Holland, Jackson took to Instagram to share his amusement. In his post, Jackson referenced the main character of the Starz series, James “Ghost” St. Patrick, saying, “Fool thought he was GHOST,” followed by a humorous remark, “Da fvck wrong wit these [ninja emoji]s man LOL.”
So what’s all the fuss about? Well, Holland initially filed the lawsuit back in 2021, claiming that the Power series was a rip-off of his 2007 autobiographical CD, Blasphemy. According to Holland, show creator Courtney Kemp and Jackson allegedly stole his life story. But Judge Torres wasn’t buying it. The judge ruled that the Ghost character from the show did not directly refer to Holland, which was a key element for his defamation claim to hold up.
But that's not all. The court also threw out a hefty $300 million lawsuit against Lionsgate, citing that the claim was too old to be valid. The complaint alleged that Jackson had shown up in Holland’s neighborhood with a fleet of vans and played a threatening song, a claim that also failed to stick due to its timing. In fact, after Holland reportedly sent a threatening email to Jackson and his legal team, the attorneys decided to report it to Judge Torres and local authorities.
Power was a major hit for Starz, running for six seasons from 2014 to 2020. The show followed the dramatic life of Ghost, played by Omari Hardwick, a drug dealer trying to leave his criminal past behind to start a new chapter by opening a nightclub. Alongside his role as an executive producer, Jackson collaborated closely with Kemp on the show and even made an appearance as Kanan Stark, another drug dealer.
Here's a closer look at the key points:
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Dismissal of Lawsuit: Judge Torres dismissed Cory Holland’s defamation lawsuit against 50 Cent and others, ruling that the Power character Ghost wasn’t directly based on him.
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$300 Million Lawsuit Dropped: The judge also dismissed Holland’s $300 million lawsuit against Lionsgate, which included claims that Jackson had threatened him with a song and a fleet of vans.
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Threatening Emails: Holland’s threatening emails to Jackson’s legal team were reported to both the judge and local authorities, further complicating his claims.
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Power’s Legacy: The show Power, running for six successful seasons, featured Omari Hardwick as the main character and 50 Cent as Kanan Stark. The series was well-received and cemented Jackson’s role in the entertainment industry.
In the end, Jackson’s social media post reflects his confidence in the dismissal of these claims and his amusement at the entire situation. The Power franchise continues to be a significant part of his legacy, blending his executive producing skills with a dynamic role on the show.
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