50 Cent has a long history of making homophobic and transphobic remarks. But in a new interview with The Independent, he says it “stings” when people label him a homophobe.
“[People] saw me being aggressive,” the rapper, who is currently promoting his new show Power Book III: Raising Kanan, explains while talking about his anti-LGBTQ past. “They saw the stereotype.”
We’d argue that people didn’t so much see a “stereotype” as they did a person using their huge platform to spew anti-LGTBQ vitriol for nearly 20 years and then never apologize for any of it.
In a 2004 interview with Playboy, 50 Cent said he wasn’t “into f*ggots” and doesn’t like gay people around him “because I’m not comfortable with what their thoughts are.”
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In 2010, he said any man who doesn’t sleep with women should “just kill” themselves and make the world a “better place.” That same year he also made a joke about sending a gunman to “shoot up a gay wedding.”
https://twitter.com/50cent/status/25954812348
In 2014, he alleged Diddy, Rick Ross, and ex-record exec Steve Stout were all gay in a same-sex relationship together. And in 2015, he complained that Empire, Lee Daniels’ acclaimed LGBTQ-inclusive series about a hip-hip music company, had too much “extra gay stuff.”
Then there are his many, many, many social media posts from over the years mocking LGBTQ people, particularly trans people, including Dwyane Wade’s 12-year-old daughter, Zaya, who come out just last year.
But now, in the year 2021, 50 Cent says he’s not homophobic and it hurts his feelings when people say that he is.
“That stings,” he tells the Independent, noting that his own mother, who died when he was eight years old, identified queer.
“She was like that,” he says. “She had a girlfriend around.”
You know what else stings? Bullying a 12-year-old on social media for coming out as trans.
If 50 Cent doesn’t like being called a homophobe, one thing he could do is actually apologize for all his past homophobic remarks and then quit disparaging LGBTQ people going forward.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Cam
“”“[People] saw me being aggressive,” the rapper, who is currently promoting his new show Power Book III: Raising Kanan, explains while talking about his anti-LGBTQ past. “They saw the stereotype.”””
Oh F-Him.
He’s trying to use the same dodge that Republican women use “Waaaaah, if you criticize my politics, you’re a sexist!”
50 is insinuating that if you point out what a raging homophobe he has been, it’s racist.
Nice try bigot.
Kangol2
He’s buffoonish. Even other rappers see him for what he is. And for someone who’s so butch and buys into toxic masculinity, he sure does gossip, stir up drama and stay obsessed with LGBTQ people’s business!
Terrycloth
she was like “that ” always had girlfriends around.. would what would happen if all gay people who liked his movies and records ,. Stopped buying them going to his concerts , or to the Cinema…I know he’s already made that money but cancel culture could bite him in the ass
G-Man
50 cent ain’t worth 2 cents he can go F$#@ himself for all I care.
greekboy
ME TOO!!!!!
Donston
I’m just gonna say it. I still believe there’s a good chance 50 had/has dimensions or fluidity in his sexuality. And I believe he’s in the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, relationship contentment/commitment spectrum. The brotha just screams “queer” to me. But like a lot of folks in the spectrum, he’d believed that traumas, lifestyle, preferences and/or public identity means it’s fine to be unabashedly homophobic or trans-phobic or anti-gay or to promote homo or “queer” of “gay” inferiority and insecurities.
50 is quite a bitter Betty. Grown as fvck person constantly ranting on social media, calling people names and being petty. I guess he’s trying to say because he’s a man in “black culture” he has to be homophobic. It’s a definite reach considering how many famous “straight”-presenting black males have not looked for any and every excuse to publicly say horrible sh*t over the course of many years. 50 just has a lot of insecurities and resentments. It’s not about being black, though, yes, sometimes our “culture” does assist in facilitating some things.
BoomerMyles
He’s only perpetuity the rampant hostile homophoboa within the Black and rapper communities.
His audience loves him for his hate.
Unfortunately he’s too big to cancel. But I say f*ck him.
Chrisk
In most of the rapp world and especially the old school ones like this dipshit women look like 3 dollor hookers and the guys are complete douchebags. Misogyny and being anti gay is a requirement in their world.
PerhapsYesNoMaybe
He’s pathetic.
Sqwoah
It goes to show “social justice” is just a one-way street
Donston
People just love making these purposely incendiary and nuance-less comments.
henare
in this case, it’s a very, very long street … and a johnny-come-lately apology when he’s trying to sell his shitty book.
personal responsibility is a thing. snowflakes like you need to stfu and understand that people hear jerks like fifty cent when he spews this nonsense
Cam
You think we don’t recognize a troll name you haven’t used in a while?
But then again, of course a Republican would want to paint the entire black community based on the actions of one person. I mean, your bigotry and rac-ism are no shock. That’s what your party does.
LumpyPillows
I/m not even sure what the original comment means.
Kangol2
@LumpyPillows, Sqwoah is making a not-so-subtle racist comment, suggesting that “social justice” only applies to Black people and not LGBTQ people. (Sqwoah has usually been silent when it comes to White homophobes, like the Dymock Nazi or the busted Catholic priest creep, both of whom Queerty wrote about recently.) Numerous Black commentators have harshly criticized 50 Cent over his homophobic and transphobic comments, including his own ex-girlfriend, who implied that he was queer himself. As Donston says, there are homoerotic dimensions to his music, career and life that probably underscore his longtime public discomfort around gender and same-sexual issues. Many of the major advocates for LGBTQ rights and equality have been Black and major Black leaders have strongly and vocally supported LGBTQ rights too.
Fahd
I may be seeing the stereotype, but I think he’s beyond redemption. His ignorant bigotry is just too deep-seated. I’m not buying his book or anything else he’s peddling.
Michael
One of hip hop’s biggest closet cases
Kangol2
At this point 50 Cent is approach peak absurdity. His homophobic and transphobic record speaks for itself. Ask his close associate Young Buck, who appears to be into trans women, how supportive 50 has been. (He wasn’t and even trolled Young Buck to humiliate him.) Maybe the new shift is about relevance, book sales and fear of being semi-canceled, but he needs to go much further in terms of apologizing and atoning for his past comments and actions, and above all, act like a grown up and stay out of other people’s lives and business, unless he’s going to make that his business with a gossip show/column, etc. Otherwise, girl, bye!
BoylesqueBubble
His excuse concerning his mom, doesn’t negate the sh*t of his past.
wiggie
we all know the ones who scream the loudest usually have the most skeletons in their closet. No different here
LumpyPillows
He really isn’t the smartest closet-case out there. He’s over compensating for his own shame.
Jim
Interesting how bigots want to “atone” as a means of boosting their fading careers.
Heywood Jablowme
That’s true but he is nowhere near “atone” territory yet! Atone is several steps beyond “apologize” and he hasn’t even got to that yet.
Jon in Canada
Homophobe? Honey, don’t forget, you’re a rapist too. Trust me bitch, there are plenty of reasons for why you’re seen a contemptible, vile, disgusting and wholly useless creature. Homophobe and rapist are just two of them.
Kangol2
He has a terrible record, but who did 50 Cent supposedly rape? He’s defended rapists, but who did he allegedly rape?