hecklerspray Saves The Children From Violent 50 Cent Poster

Yesterday we reported that residents of LA were up in arms because there was a giant poster of 50 Cent holding a gun near a school in a high-crime section of the city.

Well, it looks like some high-ranking Paramount people are hecklerspray readers, because since our article was published, the offending poster - for forthcoming movie Get Rich Or Die Tryin‘ -  has been removed. Another victory for hecklerspray!*

Activists were calling the poster for the new 50 Cent (CDs) movie Get Rich
Or Die Tryin’ "irresponsible," as it showed a large picture of the
rapper with his arms outstretched - a gun in one hand and a microphone
in the other. The posters were displayed near a school in a district of
the city that had recently mounted an anti-gang campaign.

In a letter
to Paramount studios, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich
wrote:

"This billboard conveys to the students a disturbing message actively
promoting gun violence, criminal behaviour and gang affiliation."

50 Cent, meanwhile, can’t see what all the fuss is about:

"There are different standards in the music industry. I’ve seen pistols
pointed straight at people in movie posters before, but because it’s 50
Cent, it’s different.”

*Or a victory for actual campaigners, at least - we didn’t really care if the posters stayed
or went.

Read more:

50 Cent’s billboards yanked after protests - ABC

[story by Stuart Heritage]