Rapper and television executive 50 Cent has emerged victorious in a $1 billion lawsuit brought against him by Cory “Ghost” Holland, a former drug kingpin.
Holland claimed that 50 Cent, along with co-creator Courtney Kemp, STARZ, and Lionsgate, had appropriated his life story for the plot of the popular TV series Power. The lawsuit, initially filed in 2021, centered on allegations of defamation and copyright infringement.
Holland argued that the character of “Ghost” in Power was based on his own life experiences, which he purportedly shared in a 2007 CD titled Blasphemy. He asserted that he sent this CD to Kemp’s father, hoping to leverage the story for a legitimate business opportunity.
Judge Analisa Torres, presiding over the case, ruled in favor of 50 Cent, determining that the series did not explicitly reference Holland, a critical element for a defamation claim. She further concluded that any resemblances between Holland’s story and the show’s narrative were purely coincidental. This decision represents a significant legal win for 50 Cent and his collaborators.
In a related matter, Holland accused 50 Cent and his associates of harassment and threats, alleging that they had appeared near his home and played a song perceived as menacing.
Holland responded with a letter to 50 Cent, containing explicit language and a warning to stop the alleged harassment. However, these claims did not stand up in court. Judge Torres dismissed the harassment and assault claims, citing a lack of evidence for an imminent threat of harmful contact.
These rulings effectively conclude the legal disputes between Holland and 50 Cent, reinforcing the rapper’s position and rights concerning the Power series. The decisions underscore the necessity of concrete evidence in legal claims related to defamation, copyright, and harassment.
