Michael Rainey Jr. recently became the center of social media discussions after a live-streaming video surfaced showing him being inappropriately touched by TyTy James’s sister. This incident, which took place on June 9, 2024, sparked various reactions online. Rapper 50 Cent’ controversial response added fuel to the fire, leading to widespread criticism.

In an Instagram post on June 10, 2024, which has since been deleted, 50 Cent commented on the situation, saying, “Wait s*xual assault from a male perspective this was an aggressive advance. Lol he’s fine no charges are being pressed.” This remark was met with intense backlash from the public, who found his lighthearted take on the matter insensitive and inappropriate.

One social media user expressed their frustration, stating, “50 Cent coming out and basically saying Michael did not get SA is very ignorant of him.” Another added, “50 too comfortable tolerating it I think he might have a weird case we don’t know about based off his response.” Many echoed similar sentiments, condemning 50 Cent for making a joke out of a serious situation.

The criticism continued to pour in, with one user questioning, “Why is the s*xual assault of another man made a joke…by another man????” Another user found the rapper’s comments deeply disappointing, saying, “50 Cent is saying all of this what if it was his young son???”

In response to the backlash, Michael Rainey Jr. shared his thoughts via Instagram Story. He described the incident as “an unfortunate situation” and stressed the gravity of the matter by stating, “I can’t take it lightly because I know I would be in serious trouble if the roles were reversed. The fact is, s*xual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status. We’re all human, and we should respect each other. Most importantly, we should always respect ourselves.”

A representative for Rainey Jr. also addressed the incident, emphasizing the need for respecting the humanity of celebrities. “Taking advantage of someone’s celebrity in this manner devalues entertainers and underscores the need to respect their humanity,” the representative told People magazine on June 10.

TyTy James, whose live stream was the setting for the incident, issued a public apology. He admitted his sister’s actions were “completely wrong and out of line” and expressed his embarrassment and disgust. He assured that he would take extreme precautions to prevent such incidents in future streams and has banned his sister from participating in them.

50 Cent later attempted to clarify his comments in another Instagram post, which he quickly deleted. He wrote, “I registered that as a form of flattery, I have accepted that from female fans my whole career but ok you’re right guys put her in jail! Whatever floats your boat.” This follow-up did little to quell the backlash, as many felt it still trivialized the severity of the situation.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the seriousness of sexual assault and the importance of treating all cases with the gravity they deserve, regardless of the victim’s gender. The controversy surrounding 50 Cent’s comments serves as a stark reminder of the need for sensitivity and respect in discussing such critical issues.

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