50 Cent Takes Aim at ‘Empire,’ Again
We know by now that 50 Cent is not a fan of Fox’s wildly popular series Empire, so it should come as no great surprise he’s reigniting the feud to help promote his show Power.
Earlier this year rapper’s complained that the show’s promotions were a bit too similar to those of his Starz network action series. That was followed up with some Twitter tit-for-tat with star Taraji P. Henson.
Things cooled down for a while, but now 50’s back at it with a post to promote Power’s second season, which starts Saturday.
He used Empire‘s mass-appeal on network television against it, saying the show isn’t worth anything. But his premium cable program is. You know, because you have to pay for it.
“EMPIRE is some sh!t you should get for free,” he wrote. “Now that power is worth paying for, STARZ premium cable. SAT, 9pm don’t miss it you want to be the only motherfvcker that don’t know what’s going on?”
The rap artist and actor has gone online to grouse about how promotions forEmpire were similar to those for Power, the Starz network action series that is about to begin its second season. Jackson is an executive producer who also acts in the series, and he’ll be appearing more frequently in the second season.
He noted Friday that Empire used the word “power” in advertising images.
“They didn’t have to do that,” Jackson said.
An Empire promotion features actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson with smoldering expressions, similar to a Power image of actors Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton.
After Jackson used his social media account to point out the similarities recently, Henson responded on Twitter: “I pay attention to $, not cents,” adding a peace sign emoji.
“Can you say anything bad when a woman says something to you and not be inappropriate?” Jackson said. “So I just laughed about it and let it brush. That’s cool. I think there’s room for more actual television shows.”
Both programs have primarily African-American casts, but they’re thematically different: the connection to the music business is much more a part of the Fox series.
After the actress caught word of 50 Cent’s comments about Fox series Empireallegedly copying the marketing template of his Starz series Power, Henson threw a jab or two. Henson plays Cookie Lyon, ex-wife of Lucious Lyon (played by Terrence Howard) and mother of three kids.
“POWER Season 2 is unbelievably good trust me. I have the best writers and show runner. I like Terrence Howard and Taraji Henson. I don’t like that They would copy the Marketing,” 50 said in Instagram posts that have now been deleted. “Empire VS. Power LADIES what’s up you be the judge.”
The week of the Empire premiere, Henson took to Twitter to joke about 50 Cent’s comment: “I pay attention to $’s NOT cents?” She continued to tweet: “IJS [I’m just saying] I couldn’t even find the ‘cent’ sign!! #ByeBitch #Empire.”
But not to worry, the two are just joking. Henson knows how 50 Cent jokes: “50 Cent is a comedian. He loves to push buttons. He’s a funny guy. I never took offense to it,” she tells The Wrap. And 50 Cent took to Instagram to continue the lite beef: “That fine mother—-a Taraji talking about me? I was going to date that mother—-a now I have to think about this shit now.”
A video posted by 50 Cent (@50cent) on Jan 1, 2015 at 9:28am PST
