Rapper, businessman, and general king of hip-hop playground 50 Cent is no stranger to gossip. But this time, the internet stepped its game up. A viral TikTok video claimed recently that the "In Da Club" hitmaker had been hospitalized in critical condition after a Hollywood shooting. The devasting and unfounded headline threw social media into a panic, but Fif wasn't going to let the bullshit fly without some check.
50 Cent took to Instagram to get the facts straight with his signature mixture of humor and swagger. He posted a screenshot of the hoax video and calmly battened down the hysteria with a beautiful statement: "Don't worry, I'm gonna make it because this is fake news." That's typical of 50 Cent finding a ridiculous scenario and turning it into something entertaining for his fans.
The viral TikTok post falsely attributed the tragedy to celebrity gossip powerhouse TMZ. However, an immediate call to fact-check revealed that there had been no mention of such an incident on TMZ's official platforms. In other words, it was simply another case of social media going berserk about a piece of fiction dressed up as fact.
It was unnecessary, but the fans were eager to jump into their reactions. The actress Jaime King popped into 50's Instagram comments, inserting her expressed relief with a hearty "Thank God, Curtis." At the same time, the actor Frank Grillo blurted laughter, responding with a "Hahahahaahah" and a pair of boxing glove emojis. He knew that one thing's for sure about dealing with false rumors: If anyone could handle it like a champ, it's 50 Cent.
Fans were unable to resist comparing the fake scare to the rapper's real-life brush with death more than two decades ago. Five times, at close range, and this was a brutal shooting; he survived in May 2000 while being shot outside of his grandmother's house in Queens, New York, nine times. The near-fatal attack put him in the hospital for nearly two weeks and launched an intense five-month recovery process.
That experience informed much of his music, inspiring classic songs like "Many Men" and "9 Shots," two chilling reminders of his fortitude. Considering his history, it's no surprise some fans took the fake news too literally, but 50's ability to laugh it off shows how far he's come.
If this incident proves anything, social media is all about sensationalism. But, true to 50 Cent form, he did not just debunk the gossip. He embraced it, flipped it, and made it another viral moment. Whether dropping hit records, dominating the TV industry, or taking down fake news with a single one-liner, the man is simply unbeatable. So, for those still wondering, 50 Cent is alive, well, and likely plotting his next business move somewhere. And if we've learned one thing, he will be the first to let you know if anything changes.
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