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Hip-hop mogul Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson revealed Tuesday that he turned down a $3 million offer to perform at former President Donald Trump's recent Madison Square Garden rally, citing his deliberate distance from political involvement.
During an appearance on "The Breakfast Club" radio show, the rapper disclosed that Trump's team reached out with the lucrative proposal for Sunday's event. "I got a call but they wanted me [for] Sunday," Jackson said, adding that he declined without extensive consideration.
"I'm afraid about politics," the 49-year-old artist explained. "When you do get involved in it, no matter how you feel, someone passionately disagrees with you."
The revelation comes amid growing scrutiny of celebrity political alignments ahead of the November 5 presidential election. Jackson's decision notably follows his previous public statements about Trump, including a March 2024 prediction on X (formerly Twitter) that the former president would return to office.
The MSG rally proceeded without Jackson but featured other high-profile guests, including Tucker Carlson and Dr. Phil. The event sparked controversy when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made disparaging remarks about Puerto Rico, prompting swift backlash from Latino entertainment figures including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin, who subsequently voiced support for Trump's opponent, Kamala Harris.
'50 Cent' also confirmed that he had previously declined another offer to perform his 2003 hit "Many Men" at the Republican National Convention in July. The song had become an unofficial anthem among Trump supporters following an incident involving the former president.
"I didn't even go far... I didn't talk to them about that kind of stuff," Jackson emphasized, drawing parallels to the career trajectory of Kanye West. "That's the formula for the confusion that sent Kanye to Japan. He said something about both of those things – and now he can only go to Japan."
The Trump campaign has not responded to requests for comment regarding the performance offer.
While Jackson remains focused on his entertainment ventures, including an upcoming New Year's Eve residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, his revelation provides insight into the complex intersection of entertainment, politics, and personal brand management in contemporary America.
"I do not like no part about them," Jackson concluded, referring to political entanglements. "No gangbanging and no politics!"
