50 Cent, known for his outspoken social media presence, is facing intense backlash after making controversial remarks about an incident involving Power Book II: Ghost actor Michael Rainey Jr. On June 10, the rapper and mogul responded to a disturbing moment that unfolded during a live stream, where Rainey was groped by the sister of internet personality Tylil.
The incident, which was captured live on Tylil’s stream, went viral when Rainey was inappropriately touched by the woman during the broadcast. In a now-deleted Instagram post, 50 Cent attempted to downplay the severity of the situation, writing, “Wait, sexual assault? From a male perspective, this was an aggressive advance. LOL, HE’S fine. No charges are being pressed.” He followed up with shrug and shocked-face emojis.
The post quickly sparked outrage across social media, with users condemning the rapper for seemingly trivializing sexual assault. Many pointed out that his comment was not only insensitive but also dangerous, especially coming from someone in a position of influence. “You knew to delete that s**t,” one user commented, while another added, “The thing about the internet [is] that it’s forever. Even though you delete something, it’s still out there.”
While 50 Cent may have thought the situation was humorous, Rainey himself responded more seriously to the incident. The actor released a statement expressing his shock and disappointment: “I am still in shock and don’t fully know how to process what happened last night. This is an unfortunate situation that I do not condone in any way. I can’t take it lightly because I know I would be in serious trouble if the roles were reversed. The fact is, sexual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status. We’re all human, and we should respect each other. Most importantly, we should always respect ourselves.”
Tylil, the YouTuber whose stream hosted the incident, also issued an apology. On Instagram, he wrote: “After the actions that occurred during my stream last night (June 9), I would like to sincerely apologize to Michael and his family for what took place. My little sister was completely wrong and out of line. What she did was very inappropriate and unacceptable. I am truly embarrassed and disgusted by her actions. I completely respect whatever direction Michael wants to go in this situation.”
The incident has sparked widespread conversation about the responsibility public figures have when addressing sensitive matters like sexual assault and the importance of supporting victims rather than downplaying their experiences.
Cover Photo: Jamie McCarthy / Staff via Getty Images
