50 Cent Makes Fun Of Ohio Autistic Teen [Video Warning-Graphic Language]
Rapper 50 Cent is in hot water for making fun of a mildly autistic teenager and accusing him of being on drugs. The incident, which took place at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Saturday, was published on Instagram on Tuesday.
The New York Daily News reports that Curtis James Jackson III, better known as 50 Cent, attended an event at the Eastgate Jungle Jim’s International Market in Cincinnati this weekend, to promote Effen Vodka. While he was at the airport, 50 Cent walked up to a man pushing a janitor cart. The man was later identified as 19-year-old Andrew Farrell. In a short video clipped posted on Instagram by 50 Cent (now deleted), the rapper is seen asking the young man if he’s on drugs.
Autistic airport employee speaks out about 50 Cent making fun of him https://t.co/qk9nYUEVIp pic.twitter.com/aITt3FKqPB
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) May 3, 2016
Instagram user rusty_stone9, who went to highschool with Farrell at Conner High School, viewed the video and posted a comment to 50 Cent, admonishing the rapper for being so insensitive.
“I went to school with him. He has extreme social difficulties just to let you know. He has a hard enough time getting through life without jackasses like you making fun of him. I hope you feel good about yourself. You just lost a huge fan.”
The video went viral quickly, prompting Farrell to speak with the Cinncinnati.com about the incident.
“I was just starting work. Pushing my cart, minding my own business… Then this guy just came up to me and started talking to me.”
The man, of course, was 50 Cent. The “In Da’ Club” singer followed Farrell while holding a camera in his face and accusing the “new generation” of being “crazy.”
“What kind of sh** you think he took before he got to work today? He high as a mother f***** right here in the airport. Pupils dilated and everything…….The new generation is f******* crazy.”
Farrell’s mother, Amanda Kramer, had a strong message to send to 50 Cent after viewing the video.
“Why would you attack my kid like that? It doesn’t say much about his character when he has to attack a kid he doesn’t even know….Everything he said about him is not true. He gets up. He goes to work. He does his job. He goes home. He doesn’t bother anybody.”
According to Farrell’s stepfather, Ken Kramer, Farrell worked especially hard to ensure he graduated from high school last year. Even after his family offered support and assistance in finding him a job, Farrell found his janitorial job at the airport on his own. Ken Kramer stated the following.
“He doesn’t talk to people very often. He’s got a social anxiety disorder. He also has a hearing impairment… We all grew up in a generation, at least I did being older, to know that you don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s exactly what he did. He just saw a young kid over here working and he basically went off on him.”
More than anything, Amanda Kramer would like an apology from 50 Cent. She also hopes the public understands that her son isn’t on drugs and that 50 Cent made a snap judgement about Farrell that was uncalled for.
“I want people to know that he’s a good kid. He doesn’t get in trouble. He’s not a drug addict. I want him to apologize to him more than anything and say that he was wrong. He should not have made those snap judgments. I’m tempted to contact a lawyer, but I don’t have the resources to do that. Sometimes it’s hard to fight a celebrity.”
So far, 50 Cent hasn’t made a public apology over the incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZYqW-t7oTY
[Photo by David Becker/Getty Images]
