Following a week of headline grabbing news regarding a sudden beef with Diddy, rapper 50 Cent drew more attention to himself Friday with an arrest in New York that turned into a bona fide spectacle. Several videos of the rapper being hand-cuffed have appeared on the news, and the internet.
The G-Unit general, born Curtis Jackson, was pulled over for several traffic violations after cops spotted him driving his Lamborghini erratically through midtown Manhattan.
It all started with 50’s alleged failure to signal a lane change. After he was pulled over by an unmarked patrol car, the recording artist could not produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance. A witness told Reuters that 50 refused initial orders to get out of the car, instead telling the cop: "You know who the fuck I am." He then proceeded to make a call on his cell phone, the witness said.
"He got off the phone when people starting surrounding him and waved to the crowd and said, 'Hey, what's up, people?'" recalled witness Larry Johnson, 44, to the New York Post. Seconds later, backup arrived and police surrounded the $500,000 vehicle.
"Eventually the cops opened the door. ... He just got out of the car and put his hands on the car and they put the cuffs on him," said Ian Parvess, a tourist who videotaped the arrest.
The New York Daily News said 50 went along peacefully to the Midtown South precinct as the crowd began booing his arrest. He was cited for making an unsafe lane change, driving with an expired permit, driving without insurance and driving without a vehicle registration.
He was released about an hour later and is now facing up to $220 in fines, police said. Soon after his release, both sides downplayed the incident, according to the New York Post. The police said that 50 was never actually arrested, but simply brought down to the precinct to get him away from the crowds.
"He's fine. Everything's fine," insisted 50’s manager Chris Lighty to the Post. "It was a misunderstanding over a license plate. It was no big deal."
Meanwhile, 50 found himself in the middle of another incident this weekend during Fashion Week, of all things. During Baby Phat’s runway show in Bryant Park, 50 reportedly went after an audience member who said something out of pocket. The New York Post reports: "Fifty had a folding chair raised to his head as the crowd chanted, ‘Fight!’ but security rushed in and the show went on."
The G-Unit general, born Curtis Jackson, was pulled over for several traffic violations after cops spotted him driving his Lamborghini erratically through midtown Manhattan.
It all started with 50’s alleged failure to signal a lane change. After he was pulled over by an unmarked patrol car, the recording artist could not produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance. A witness told Reuters that 50 refused initial orders to get out of the car, instead telling the cop: "You know who the fuck I am." He then proceeded to make a call on his cell phone, the witness said.
"He got off the phone when people starting surrounding him and waved to the crowd and said, 'Hey, what's up, people?'" recalled witness Larry Johnson, 44, to the New York Post. Seconds later, backup arrived and police surrounded the $500,000 vehicle.
"Eventually the cops opened the door. ... He just got out of the car and put his hands on the car and they put the cuffs on him," said Ian Parvess, a tourist who videotaped the arrest.
The New York Daily News said 50 went along peacefully to the Midtown South precinct as the crowd began booing his arrest. He was cited for making an unsafe lane change, driving with an expired permit, driving without insurance and driving without a vehicle registration.
He was released about an hour later and is now facing up to $220 in fines, police said. Soon after his release, both sides downplayed the incident, according to the New York Post. The police said that 50 was never actually arrested, but simply brought down to the precinct to get him away from the crowds.
"He's fine. Everything's fine," insisted 50’s manager Chris Lighty to the Post. "It was a misunderstanding over a license plate. It was no big deal."
Meanwhile, 50 found himself in the middle of another incident this weekend during Fashion Week, of all things. During Baby Phat’s runway show in Bryant Park, 50 reportedly went after an audience member who said something out of pocket. The New York Post reports: "Fifty had a folding chair raised to his head as the crowd chanted, ‘Fight!’ but security rushed in and the show went on."
