50 Cent has criticised Jussie Smollett following the actor’s performance at a Pride event in Harlem over the weekend, reigniting the long-standing rivalry between the television series Power and Empire, per ew.com.
In an Instagram video shared on June 28, the 50-year-old rapper mocked Smollett, 44, as he danced and sang on stage. Referencing his former Starz series Power, 50 Cent wrote: “See I told you POWER was the s—,” adding, “No you want to watch Empire. Now look, this is all your fault.”
The post revives a years-long competitive narrative between the two series, which were viewed as direct rivals during their respective runs from 2014 to 2020. 50 Cent has frequently targeted Smollett since 2019, when the actor became embroiled in a high-profile legal controversy.
Smollett was accused of staging a hate crime in Chicago in 2019, initially claiming he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault. Following a police investigation, which determined the incident was staged, Smollett faced felony charges. He was later convicted, sentenced to 30 months of probation—including 150 days in jail—and ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago.
Since the incident, Smollett has maintained his career with intermittent appearances, including a turn on the reality series Special Forces and as the subject of the 2025 documentary The Truth About Jussie Smollett.
•Featured image: Jussie Smollett in 2025/Rob Kim/Getty/Entertainment Weekly