Rapper 50 Cent files for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $5 million to woman whose sex tape he 'posted' online

 
Filed: 50 Cent has filed for bankruptcy after being sued for $5 million (Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jennifer Ruby13 July 2015
The Weekender

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Rapper 50 Cent - real name Curtis James Jackson III - has filed for bankruptcy just a few days after being ordered to pay $5 million in a law suit.

The Candy Shop star filed papers at the US Bankruptcy Court in Hartford, Connecticut, on Monday, with reported assets and debts each in the range of $10 million to $50 million.

On Friday a jury ordered the 40-year-old to pay $5 million to Lastonia Leviston, whose sex tape he allegedly 'leaked' and posted online without her permission.

The woman in question is the former partner of 50 Cent's rival, Rick Ross, and has claimed that the 13-minute video was obtained and made public without her knowledge.

Appearing on the Internet back in 2009, the video featured the rapper as a 'narrator' at the beginning of the clip, making crude comments.

According to 50 Cent's lawyers, he obtained the tape from the man who features in the video, who told him that he permission to upload it.

Leviston reportedly told the court: "This was something done to me. I didn't have a choice. I would never, ever do this to myself."

While the rapper is set to appear at London's O2 along with G-Unit next week, he is also expected to be signing bottles of his drinks brand Effen Vodka at a suburban grocery store in Wisconsin the week after.

"This filing for personal bankruptcy protection permits Mr. Jackson to continue his involvement with various business interests and continue his work as an entertainer, while he pursues an orderly reorganization of his financial affairs,” said William A.Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel to Mr. Jackson.

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