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50 Cent Puts Money Behind His Apology: Rapper Donates $100K To Autism Speaks

By Monique Harris
Published on: 06:45 PST, May 5, 2016

50 Cent has manned up since his social media stunt of cracking jokes that unintentionally were insulting to 19-year-old Andrew Farrell, a Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport employee with autism.

50 Cent went above and beyond to make good with Farrell by donating $100,000 to Autism Speaks, TMZ reported.

The rapper posted a video tape to his social media page that he later deleted. In the video, the rapper accused Farrell of being high. Andrew is not only autistic but he suffers Asperger’s syndrome and hearing loss.

50 Cent said, “It was certainly not my intent to insult him or the disability community, which is a source of great strength in America. I have apologized personally to him and his family.”

He issued an apology to the family, which was posted by Page Six.

“While the incident at the airport resulted from an unfortunate misunderstanding, I am truly sorry for offending the young man. It was certainly not my intent to insult him or the disability community, which is a source of great strength in America. I have apologized personally to him and his family.”

The media suggested the family demanded $1 million be donated to a GoFundMe account, but the family’s attorney told Page Six they would be satisfied by a “sincere apology.”

“The family only wants a sincere apology from Mr. Jackson,” wrote attorney Matthew J. Hammer. “The Cincinnati area loves Mr. Jackson and his work and I think it can only be mutually beneficial if he is willing to offer an apology to Andrew and his family.”

50 Cent obliged, then Martin Shkreli, the ex-pharmaceutical CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, amidst his own legal troubles for hiking up the price on a life-saving drug, showed his disapproval of 50 Cent’s roast by donating $10,000 to Autism Speaks after contacting the Farrell family.

Shkreli was arrested at the end of 2015 by the FBI and charged with securities fraud. He raised the price of the HIV treatment Daraprim from $13.50 a tablet to $750 per tablet. Despite his public persona, sources close to Shkreli reports that he was moved by Farrell’s story because several of his family members have autism.

Although many are shocked by his generosity to this cause, his donation will likely have little effect on his pending cause. Shkreli says he wants to use his company for good and develop new treatments for autism patients, but he started with a generous donation.

Shortly afterwards, Farrell’s attorney asked 50 Cent to donate $10,000 to Autism Speaks, too. 50 Cent went over the bare minimum in his $100,000 contribution.

“I want to turn this misunderstanding into an understanding. There are people who are ignored, mistreated and neglected with disabilities that need our support,” the rapper said.

As he clears his name, EFFEN Vodka chimed in and issued a statement of their disappointment with 50 Cent’s behavior, calling it harassment, reports VLADTV.

50 Cent is a minority share holder in the liquor company. They are attempting to separate themselves from the rapper’s actions in the following statement.

“EFFEN is a brand that considers social responsibility the highest priorities; and 50 Cent’s recent actions are in no way representative of EFFEN Vodka or our brand values. We are taking this situation extremely seriously and have communicated our profound disappointment to 50 Cent directly.”

50 Cent frequently promotes EFFEN Vodka on his social media accounts and has become a figurehead for the product. Their disappointment derives from the fact that he used the same media accounts to crack jokes about Farrell.

After his donation to Autism Speaks, the rapper added, “I am calling on my fellow musicians, actors, entertainers and all others who may not have fully considered this cause to join together to help in any way they can.”

[Photo by Eric Charbonneau/AP Images]

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