50 Cent has filed a lawsuit against a jeweler for allegedly selling imitations of his popular chain using his name and likeness. The 49-year-old rapper maintains that he had never purchased jewelry from TraxNYC or permitted it to profit from his celebrity status.
According to paperwork obtained by TMZ HipHop, the “In da Club” rapper is suing Maksud Agadjani and TraxNYC Corp. for trademark infringement and violation of his right to publicity. According to him, Trax’s series of TikTok tweets about him are deceiving customers into believing he is associated with the knockoff items.
Trax shared a photo of 50 Cent and Drake just a few days ago. The caption read, “Yo, @50 Cent, you should be a jeweler. Hit traxnyc.com or call 212 traxnyc.”
He also displayed a cross that looked like the one 50 Cent was wearing in an August TikTok post, writing, “We just jocked your style, I know you watch my videos and now I’m watching your s**t and jocking your s**t just like you jocked my s**t.”
Now, 50 Cent wants a judge to stop the jeweler in his tracks and have him pay at least $5 million in damages. The rapper had warned Trax on Instagram on multiple occasions that his activities would get him into trouble.
A rep for 50 Cent told TMZ HipHop, “Mr. Jackson takes the unauthorized use of his name and likeness for commercial purposes seriously.”
The rep added that when 50 Cent made it clear he was not pleased, Trax doubled down, replying, “Don’t you got better things to worry about.”
HipHopDX reports that TraxNYC publicly pleaded with 50 Cent to withdraw the case after learning about it. In a video last week, he said, “Yo, 50, a cross is meant for forgiveness, redemption, forgiveness of sins. Forgive, forget, let it go, brother.”
50 Cent responded, “Let me think about it. Nah you tried to play with me! You know the vibes by Monday.”