A Los Angeles radio host wants 50 Cent to face the music, alleging in a lawsuit filed Thursday that the “Candy Shop” rapper threw a microphone at his head during a concert in August.
Bryhana Monegain, a midday host for hip-hop station Power 106 FM, filed her lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. At the center of the complaint, reviewed by The Times, is an August 30, 2023 stop on 50 Cent's Final Lap tour at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Monegain alleges that 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) threw his microphone “into a crowded area” after realizing it didn't work during his performance. This caused “the microphone to strike the plaintiff's face and left wrist,” resulting in “serious and permanent” injuries, according to the complaint. After the incident, the lawsuit adds, Monegain received immediate care at the Los Angeles General Medical Center emergency department for injuries that included a concussion, “forehead laceration” and left wrist pain.
Monegain, who also complained of “dizziness, headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, and nausea,” alleges he still suffers from his injuries and “emotional distress.”
Representatives for 50 Cent did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment on Friday. Representatives for co-defendants Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), owner of Crypto.com Arena, and Jackson's G-Unit also did not immediately respond to The Times' requests for comment.
In August, a video of 50 Cent throwing his microphone off stage during his show in Los Angeles circulated on social media. Footage showed the “PIMP” rapper, 48, swapping and tossing his microphones twice: gently tossing the first one and then tossing the other into the crowd.
Several outlets, including TMZ and PageSix, posted photos of a bandaged Monegain and her injuries, showing a bloody gash on the radio personality's forehead. TMZ reported that the rapper was not aiming at Monegain, but also that she was not supposed to be in the restricted area where she threw the microphone at her. She reportedly told police that the rapper looked directly at her before throwing the device, according to TMZ.
In an August statement shared with PageSix, the rapper's attorney, Scott Leemon, denied the assault allegation: “Let's be very clear…my client Curtis would never intentionally hit anyone with a microphone.”
He added: “Anyone who says anything different doesn't have all the facts and is misinformed.”
Morgan & Morgan, the law firm representing Monegain, condemned the August incident and referenced 50 Cent's “In Da Club” to express confidence in its case.
“No matter who the aggressor is, this alleged act of negligence and violence is unacceptable, and we will hold 50 Cent and his co-defendants accountable for their alleged actions,” the statement said. “Sir. Jackson himself has previously said that “if the conversation is not [a]About the money, man, I don't care,' so we are confident that our client will receive fair and equitable compensation for the injuries she suffered.”
Monegain, which demanded a jury trial, is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages that include medical expenses, legal fees and past and future wage losses.
50 Cent is set to bring his Final Lap Tour, the 20th anniversary celebration of his Grammy-winning album “Get Rich or Die Tryin',” to more venues later this year. On March 1 he will perform at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Texas. Days later, he will bring his hits to Phoenix's Talking Stick Amphitheater Resort.
Times staff writer Nardine Saad contributed to this report.
