Posts Tagged ‘taco bell’

50 Cent Sues Taco Bell

July 24th, 2008

Taco Bell better make a run for the border — 50 Cent has sued the fast food chain for using his monetary moniker in advertisements without his approval.

The 32-year-old rapper filed a federal lawsuit in regards to Taco Bell’s "Why Pay More?" campaign that asks Fiddy to change his stage name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. 50 claims the the restaurant never informed him of the marketing ploy and is seeking $4 million in damages.

The Mexican-themed restaurant launched the campaign, which promotes food for under a dollar, in June and sent out press releases challenging 50 (real name: Curtis Jackson) to "think outside the bun."

"We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change. We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates for change," Taco Bell CEO and President Greg Creed wrote. "We encourage you to ‘Think Outside the Bun’ and hope you accept our offer."

Greg also pledged to donate $10,000 to a charity of 50’s choice if he took Taco Bell up on the offer.

However, according to the Grammy winner’s attorney, Peter D. Raymond, Taco Bell never asked 50 for permission to use his name and he himself did not find out about it until he saw a news report on the campaign.

Suffice it to say, he was not amused, telling OK! last month the campaign is "sleazy and ill conceived."

"This is a sleazy and ill-conceived publicity stunt by Taco Bell’s president, Greg Creed, whose disingenuous offer was leaked to the press before it was even presented to 50 Cent’s agent yesterday," a rep for 50 Cent told OK!.

Fiddy himself added,"When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: ‘We messed with the bull and got the horns!’"

Fiddy Responds to Taco Bell Name-Change Offer

June 19th, 2008

When fast-food giant Taco Bell challenged rapper 50 Cent last night to change his name to 79, 89 or 99 Cent, they probably weren’t guessing that the music mogul would react with more than a shrug.

But in a statement released exclusively to OK!, it looks like Fiddy didn’t see any humor in the offer.

"This is a sleazy and ill-conceived publicity stunt by Taco Bell’s president, Greg Creed, whose disingenuous offer was leaked to the press before it was even presented to 50 Cent’s agent yesterday," a rep for 50 Cent tells OK!.

Fiddy himself adds,"When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: ‘We messed with the bull and got the horns!’"

So we gas that’s a "no" on the offer?

OK! Exclusive: 50’s Name-Change Challenge!

June 18th, 2008

Would rapper 50 cent sound as sweet by any other name? Taco Bell seems to think so!

The fast food chain has challenged the rapper to change his name from 50–to 79, 89, or 99 Cent in connection with its new "Why Pay More" value menu for one day this summer.

Also part of the deal– "Fiddy" (a.k.a. Curtis Jackson) must stop by any Taco Bell restaurant of his choosing and rap his order at the drive-thru using his new moniker.

If he completes his mission, Taco Bell has vowed to donate $10,000 to a charity of the rapper’s choice. In addition, it will feed all of the guests at the Taco Bell location that 50 Cent ends up choosing.

 

In a letter to 50 Cent obtained on Wednesday by OK!, Taco Bell President and CEO Greg Creed writes, "We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change. We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates for change… We encourage you to ‘Think Outside the Bun’ and hope you accept our offer."

That’s no chump change!

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