Lastonia Leviston will get an additional $2 million more than expected from 50 Cent, as part of money awarded to her from his posting her sex tape online.
On Friday, a Manhattan jury said 50 Cent should pay Lastonia Leviston $2 million in punitive damages on top of the $5 million she was already awarded.
“I’ve been served justice by the courts and vindicated by God,” Leviston said.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, wasn’t in court on Friday.
“I hope he learned a lesson,” Lastonia Leviston said.
Of course one might wonder whether she learned a lesson, too, of course. The scenario sort of begs the question, should she have made a sex tape?
Lastonia Leviston’s lawyer asked for $15 million in punitive damages earlier on Friday. And while she received a far cry less than that, she still seemed satisfied. 50 Cent’s lawyer only wanted to pay out $700,000.
Fitty made several claims of poverty during the trial, but it is clear the jurors didn’t buy them. He even filed for bankruptcy earlier in July.
50 Cent Ordered to Pay $5 MILLION for Leaking Sex Tape http://t.co/LSxdfzHBT3
— Gossip Cop (@GossipCop) July 11, 2015
“He has it. He’s 50 Cent. You know he has more than 50 cents,” juror Sylvia Rodriguez said.
“I don’t think he’s broke,” she added. “If anything he has it hidden.”
Fifty Cent appeared in court on Tuesday, and tried to share his humorous side. The jurors weren’t buying that either.
“I don’t think he was taking it seriously,” Rodriguez said. “He was winking at one of us, and then he just ran out of the courtroom. That wasn’t necessary.”
Lastonia Leviston said she hoped the verdict would teach the rapper that “you can’t be mean and cruel to people.”
James Renard, who is one of Fitty’s attorneys, was disappointed in the verdict.
“Although we appreciate the jury’s service, we are disappointed in the result,” he said. “Our client intends to file post-verdict, pre-judgment motions which we believe should reduce the size of the award.”
Do you think Lastonia Leviston was awarded a reasonable amount of money from a man who posted her sex tape on the internet?