April 11, 2008 12:16

50 Cent sued by teenage boy

Rapper taken to court for promoting 'gangsta lifestyle'

50 Cent is being sued for promoting a "gangsta lifestyle" by a teenager who claims friends of the rapper assaulted him.

Fourteen-year-old James Rosemond and his mother Cynthia Reed are taking the rapper, Universal Music Group and Tony Yayo from 50 Cent's G-Unit, and one of Yayo's employees, Lowell Fletcher, for encouraging "artists to pursue violent, criminal lifestyles".

The lawsuit was filed after the teenager was allegedly assaulted in New York in March 2007 by four men including Yayo and Fletcher, reports Reuters.

Rosemond claims he was targeted because he was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of Czar Entertainment, a management company that represents rival rapper The Game.

The lawsuit added: "The members of G-Unit, including defendants Yayo and 50 Cent, encouraged, sanctioned, approved and condoned its members threatening violence, and/or engaging in violent acts in furtherance of its business."

Yayo and Fletcher have already pleaded guilty to criminal charges surrounding the case back in February.

Yayo pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to 10 days of community service while Fletcher pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to nine months in jail.