50 Cent faces lawsuit over Lastonia Leviston sex tape
A Manhattan judge ruled 50 Cent can be sued for a revenge porn tape posted to his website in 2009. The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by Lastonia Leviston, who was featured in the video. She was targeted by 50 Cent because she mothered rival Rick Ross’ daughter. The suit has effectively been on hold since 2010, as 50 Cent claimed he didn’t cause the woman emotional harm.
In original court filings, Lastonia claimed she contemplated suicide after the video was posted on 50 Cent’s BooBooTV website. According to the New York Post, a judge determined these claims were true after examining Lastonia’s diary from the time around the video’s release.
The video was created using a private sex tape of Lastonia. Her partner’s face was blurred. 50 Cent, dressed as alter ego “Pimpin’ Curly,” edited himself into the tape.
The 13-minute film was viewed more than four million times.
According to court papers, 50 Cent said his “sole motive was to respond to Ross’s ‘disrespecting’ him.” He apparently targeted Lastonia because she has a child with Rick Ross.
A New York City jury will now decide whether Lastonia’s suffering was “genuine and extreme.” She seeks unspecified damages from 50 Cent.
