50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend claims rapper made her “fear for her life”
An ex of 50 Cent claims she feared for her life while signing an agreement to give away her life rights.
The G-Unit rapper sued Shaniqua Tompkins, the mother of his eldest son, Marquise Jackson, for $1 million last year for telling stories about him after she allegedly signed over her life rights for $80,000 and future royalties.
He claimed she “irrevocably and exclusively” sold the rights to her life through his publishing company in 2007, and agreed to “not publicly disclose, exploit, or otherwise commercialise any aspect of her life story or related rights”.
According to an affidavit acquired by Complex, Tompkins claims 50’s late manager, Chris Lighty, tracked her down and showed up to a hotel room with someone she believed was his security guard.
She claims she initially refused to sign the agreement, but was told she would “suffer severe consequences” if she didn’t agree to the terms.
“Fearing for my life and for my children’s lives, I signed the agreement under extreme duress,” she said.
Tompkins alleges that Lighty told her 50 would “use his power, wealth, and public platform to ruin me financially and personally.” She claims she was only shown the signature page and not the terms of the agreement.
In July, 50’s lawyer, Reena Jain, said, “Tompkins’ behaviour was intentional – she explicitly referenced the very agreement she breached while she actively breached it, stating it was something that was ‘going to have to be worked out legally.’”
She added, “Jackson purchased these rights to preserve them for use in future biographical or autobiographical projects, but also in part because he was concerned that Tompkins would attempt to monetise their history and his name. His concerns were ultimately proven correct.”