50 Cent mocks Courtney Kemp after Omari Hardwick interview
The rapper’s social media post follows remarks by the actor regarding his experience on the Starz series Power.
By Alexei Brooks ·
Curtis Jackson, known professionally as 50 Cent, posted a mocking message to Courtney Kemp on Instagram on Sunday. The post followed a recent interview with actor Omari Hardwick, who addressed the long-standing tension between the two creative forces behind the Starz series Power. Jackson’s caption read: 'Small ass in a BIG seat, 😆 she forgot I hired her @OmariHardwick is a real [ninja emoji] we hit the bullseye with POWER.'
The dispute resurfaced after Hardwick sat down with Associated Press journalist Gary Gerald Hamilton. Hamilton asked the actor about Kemp’s earlier claims that she intended to write his character, James 'Ghost' St. Patrick, out of the show early in its run. Hardwick paused before responding. He noted a shift in the dynamic, stating that talented people are often not treated well. He observed that many small a, es in big seats try to relegate big a, es to small seats, particularly in New York.
Hardwick added a specific reference to Jackson. He said, 'Jay always said nine dudes will kill for Omari. One might have an issue.' After checking if the interviewer was following his point, he clarified, 'I never said anything, did I? That’s why I always rock with 50. I always pray for Courtney. Always. Never stopped praying for her.'
The conflict between Jackson and Kemp has persisted since the show launched on Starz in 2014. Jackson recently told Variety he would never work with Kemp again. That interview took place ahead of his role as Balrog in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. Kemp responded to Variety in a written statement. She argued that Jackson’s recollection of budgets and production requirements is uninformed because he rarely attended budget meetings.
Kemp acknowledged that Jackson played a large part in the birth of Power, even though he did not write or create the series. She expressed confusion over his continued mention of her in interviews and podcasts. Kemp stated she has moved on in her career and hopes the success of Street Fighter allows Jackson to do the same.
The latest exchange marks another public escalation in a dispute that has spanned over a decade. While Hardwick maintains his support for Jackson, Kemp’s written response keeps the debate over creative control and production history alive. Both parties have now spoken publicly within the last few weeks, keeping the narrative in the spotlight.
