A bankruptcy judge has ordered rapper 50 Cent to return to court and answer to accusations that he is hiding his assets.
Judge Ann Nevins ordered the narcissistic mogul to explain a series of photos he posted on Instagram showing an endless supply of cash.
The 40-year-old rapper, who was born Curtis Jackson, ran afoul of the bankruptcy court when he flaunted hundreds of thousands of dollars in photos on his Instagram account.
One of the photos he posted shows Jackson using $200,000 in cash to spell out the word ‘BROKE’.
Other photos show stacks of cash in a refrigerator and the rapper lounging on a bed with bundles of cash strewn about him.
“I’m concerned about allegations of nondisclosure and a lack of transparency in the case,” Judge Nevins said at a hearing Thursday in Hartford, Conn. “There’s a purpose of having a bankruptcy process be transparent, and part of that purpose is to inspire confidence in the process.”
The judge added that bankruptcy is for the “honest, but unfortunate” individual to get a fresh start.
The photos were provided to the court by Lastonia Leviston, rapper Rick Ross’ ex-girlfriend who won $7 million in a judgment against Jackson for posting her sex-tape online.
Jackson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a day before a jury decided damages in the sex tape case last summer.
The father-of-2 also owes $18 million to Sleek Audio and Suntrust bank.
Jackson’s lawyers accused Leviston of using the incriminating photos to “disingenuously smear” their client.
The lawyers claim Jackson is merely using the cash as props to promote his false image as a millionaire rapper.
“[Jackson] is in the entertainment and promotion business and must maintain his brand and image,” his lawyers wrote in court documents.
A lawyer for Sleek Audio told Judge Nevins that Jackson was hiding income earned from recent appearances and rap recordings.
But Jackson’s lawyer, James Berman, disputed the allegations at Thursday’s hearing.
“All his income was reported,” Berman told the judge.
No date is scheduled for Jackson to return to court.
