Rapper 50 Cent has publicly questioned Jay-Z's continued involvement in producing the NFL Super Bowl halftime show following recent allegations against the music mogul.
The controversy stems from a civil lawsuit filed Sunday, which accuses Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, of sexually assaulting a minor at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The lawsuit also names Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a defendant.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, took to Instagram to challenge Jay-Z's role in the prestigious NFL event. Posting a well-known meme of himself laughing in a car, Jackson wrote: "Ok I don't know what's going on, but are we gonna still have the Super Bowl [halftime show]."
Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation have been producing the Super Bowl halftime show since 2020. The upcoming performance is set to feature Kendrick Lamar as headliner in New Orleans.
The timing of Jackson's comments adds another layer to the long-standing rivalry between the two rap artists, dating back to their musical feuds in the late 1990s. Jackson is currently working on a Netflix documentary series about Combs's alleged sex trafficking and racketeering offenses.
Jay-Z has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and criticizing Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who filed the lawsuit. The rapper stated he plans to discuss the situation with his wife Beyoncé and their children while maintaining his innocence.
The NFL has not yet commented on the situation or Jay-Z's status as halftime show producer.