Rapper 50 Cent has been ordered to pay Rick Ross’ baby mama Lastonia Leviston at least $5 million for leaking her sex tape.
According to further report from Gossip Cop, Leviston filed the lawsuit in 2010 after 50 Cent posted the explicit footage online as part of a dig against Rick Ross, with whom he had been feuding. The video, which 50 Cent shared on his website in 2009, showed Leviston having sex with a man named Maurice Murray. 50 Cent had purchased the tape from Murray, but did not have Leviston’s permission to post it online.
50 Cent added his own narration to the footage, calling Leviston a “slut,” “motherf*cking porn star,” and more. It ended up getting shared on additional sites and obtaining millions of views, leading Leviston to sue 50 Cent for emotional distress, arguing that the incident led her to suffer from depression and anxiety, and become suicidal. The rapper, however, attempted to get the suit dismissed, claiming Leviston was exaggerating her distress. But, as Gossip Cop noted at the time, a judge ruled in 2014 that the case should go to trial.
That finally happened last month, when a five-week trial kicked off. Deliberations on Friday only lasted for just over an hour before the jury found in favor of Leviston. In the ruling, the jurors agreed that Leviston had suffered emotional distress, had her right to privacy violated, and that 50 Cent had profited off the posting. She will receive $2.5 million for the distress and another $2.5 million for the privacy violation.
But in addition to the $5 million, there could be punitive damages awarded during a penalty phase, set to take place next week. That award could be based on 50 Cent’s net worth. Interestingly, his attorney had argued during the trial that Leviston was only after his money.
50 Cent, who did not appear in court during the trial, has not publicly commented on the verdict. In honor of his 40th birthday, which was Monday, he’s slated to host a party at Las Vegas club Drai’s on Friday night.
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