Rapper 50 Cent was reminded on social media about his past run-ins with the law after claiming that Los Angeles is ‘finished’ now that they’ve instituted a zero-bail policy that took effect in May.
The 48-year-old first took to Instagram last week to share his views, writing ‘LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH,’ which drew in comments reminding the rapper of his own criminal past.
One commenter exclaimed that if a ‘reformed criminal like 50 Cent says it’s gonna get bad — believe him!’
50 Cent shared a follow-up post on Sunday, calling out media outlet for their report on his stance.
‘Hey I understand why Deadline is reporting my opinion,’ he wrote. ‘I’m a big deal, but why did they write I had run in’s with the law? Im a born-again Christian!’
Rapper 50 Cent was reminded on social media about his past run-ins with the law after claiming that Los Angeles is ‘finished’ now that they’ve instituted a zero-bail policy
Deadline published a story on Sunday that reminded readers of 50 Cent’s own criminal past
He shared a follow-up post on Sunday, calling out media outlet for their report on his stance
In May, an LA judge ruled that holding inmates to cash bail when they can’t afford to pay was a violation of their constitutional rights – and now critics have said crime in the nation’s second-largest city has got worse because of it.
50 Cent wrote on social media: ‘ LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH [shaking my head].’
He posed the words alongside a Fox 11 segment about the policy. In recent years, Los Angeles has seen a spike in crime was the zero bail policy was put in place.
The no-bail extends to such crimes as theft, shoplifting, drug use, vandalism, battery and other nonviolent crimes.
Deadline published a story on Sunday that reminded readers of 50 Cent’s own criminal past.
‘When 50 is disagreeing with crime reform u know there’s a serious problem lol,’ one person commented on his Instagram post.
Another tweeted: ‘Wow…former gang member says it’s bad…it must be REALLY bad!’
‘When 50 is disagreeing with crime reform u know there’s a serious problem lol,’ one person commented on his Instagram post
Another tweeted: ‘Wow…former gang member says it’s bad…it must be REALLY bad!’
In 2016, 50 Cent was arrested for using profanity on stage for using the word ‘motherf***er’ in front of 40,000 people at his performance on the island of St. Kitts.
It’s illegal to use the word ‘motherf***er’ there.
In 2013, 50 Cent was charged with one count of domestic violence and four counts of vandalism after he was accused kicking his ex-girlfriend and causing $7,100 in property damage at her condominium in Toluca Lake, California.
Back in 1994, 50 Cent was arrested on a direct sale of a controlled substance charge after selling four vials of crack cocaine to an undercover officer, previous media reports stated.
He was arrested just a few weeks later when police raided his home and found drugs and a pistol.
50 was sentenced to up to nine years in prison, but because the charge was a non-violent offense, he opted out to the SHOCK program, which is a a bootcamp-style diversion program for first-time, non-violent offenders.
It wasn’t long after his release that he met Jam Master Jay and his music career took off, and he was launched into stardom.
The 48-year-old, pictured here in May 2023, took to Instagram last week to share his views, writing ‘LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH’
The overall crime rate in Los Angeles jumped 11 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2022, there were a reported 60 crimes per 1,000 residents, up from 54 crimes per 1,000 people in 2021.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County removed cash bail to aid overcrowding issues.
Los Angeles’ spiking crime rate has been a problem since the policy was put in place. In the downtown area there was a 25 percent increase in violent crime – such as rape and murder – in 2022 compared to 2019, according to USA Today.
In the Rancho Park neighborhood there was a 114 percent increase in violent crime between 2019 and 2022, according to the data.
Los Angeles police have blamed the rise in mental illness, an increase in drug use and homeliness that has overrun the city.
‘But it’s not only the unhoused population who is the victim of crime’ councilwoman Traci Park told USA Today. ‘Every day, people out in the neighborhoods or community, people working in local businesses, have been victimized, whether by assaults or armed robberies. It’s pretty commonplace.’
Just weeks ago, LA County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff ruled in favor of a group of six activists who brought a lawsuit against the county, alleging that the previous system favored the affluent.
All of the plaintiffs say they have been harmed under the cash bail system.
The ruling in May came just as Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon was accused of letting up to 10,000 cases to pile up and causing numerous prosecutors to quit
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County removed cash bail to aid overcrowding issues. Outside view of the Men Central Jail in May 12, 2020
LA County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff ruled in favor of a group of 6 activists who brought a lawsuit against the county, alleging that the previous system favored the affluent
The plaintiffs testified that because they could not afford their bail, they missed work, causing their families to suffer.
Being jailed for even short periods of time may cause them to lose their jobs, their housing or custody of their children.
They suffer the harms of confinement in a jail cell even though a large portion of them will never be formally charged with any crime, let alone convicted, one section of the suit read.
Riff noted in his decision he felt that it was unconstitutional to keep people behind bars purely for the reason that they are in poverty is not a legal form of punishment.
The current ruling will remain in place for 60 days during which the city and county must develop as ‘constitutionally sound, effective, concrete’ plan to handle those arrested for minor offenses.
Those who commit a second crime while awaiting trial on other charges will be subjected to cash bail when they’re rearrested.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office said that the effects of the policy have been ‘horrific.’
He told Fox News Digital: ‘I mean, we have more people being shot at, stabbed, assaulted, robbed, beaten. These are real victims – and the numbers are staggering under zero bail.’
The ruling in May came just as Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon was accused of letting up to 10,000 cases to pile up and causing numerous prosecutors to quit.