Rapper and media mogul 50 Cent has come under fire for his reaction to the recent assault of actor Michael Rainey Jr, best known for his role in Power Book II: Ghost. The incident occurred on 9 June during a Twitch livestream hosted by TyTy James.

During the stream, James’ sister inappropriately touched Rainey Jr in a moment captured on camera and widely circulated on social media.

The footage shows Rainey Jr looking visibly uncomfortable as he tries to fend off James’ sister’s advances. Despite his apparent distress, most people in the room seemed oblivious to the incident.

The actor eventually left the stream, visibly shaken by what had transpired.

In a statement to People Magazine, a representative for Rainey Jr expressed his shock and sadness following the event, emphasising the seriousness of 𝑠e𝑥ual harassment and assault, regardless of gender.

“This situation is not being taken lightly,” the statement read.

Sexual harassment and assault are serious and unacceptable acts. Taking advantage of someone’s celebrity in this manner devalues entertainers and underscores the need to respect their humanity.

Rainey Jr also addressed the situation on his Instagram Stories, stating he is “still in shock” and highlighting the gravity of the issue.

“The fact is, 𝑠e𝑥ual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status. We’re all human, and we should respect each other.”

In contrast, 50 Cent’s initial response appeared to downplay the incident. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he wrote: “Wait, 𝑠e𝑥ual assault,” followed by a shocked face emoji. “From a male perspective, this was an aggressive advance. LOL, HE’S fine, no charges are being pressed [shrug emoji].”

This flippant comment sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing the rapper of minimising Rainey Jr’s experience and the broader issue of 𝑠e𝑥ual assault.

TyTy James, the host of the stream, issued a heartfelt apology on his Instagram Stories, condemning his sister’s actions and expressing his support for Rainey Jr after initially lambasting him for not fulfilling his initial agreement to spend more time on the live stream.

“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,” he wrote.

James has since banned his sister from participating in future streams and vowed to implement stricter measures to prevent similar incidents.

50 Cent’s response to the incident is particularly controversial given his history of mocking fellow musician Diddy over allegations of physical and 𝑠e𝑥ual assault. The rapper recently sold a project to Netflix aimed at exposing Diddy as a perpetrator, which has led many to question his seemingly inconsistent stance on issues of 𝑠e𝑥ual misconduct.