US judge nixes 50 Cent’s bid to toss video lawsuit

In this Oct. 26, 2011 file photo, Rapper and businessman Curtis Jackson III, known as 50 Cent, poses during an interview in New York. Rapper 50 Cent has lost a bid to end a Florida woman’s lawsuit over a sex video posted online with him edited into it as a wig-wearing narrator. In a ruling made public Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, a Manhattan judge rebuffed the rapper’s request to dismiss Lastonia Leviston’s suit. Lawyers for both sides haven’t immediately returned calls. AP

NEW YORK—Rapper 50 Cent has lost a bid to end a Florida woman’s lawsuit over a sex video posted online with him edited into it as a wig-wearing narrator.

A New York judge rebuffed the rapper’s request to dismiss Lastonia Leviston’s claim in a ruling made public Thursday. Lawyers for both sides haven’t returned calls seeking comment.

The lawsuit concerns a videotape Leviston made with a boyfriend in 2008. The judge’s decision says the boyfriend later provided the tape to 50 Cent without Leviston’s permission.

The rapper used the footage to make a video featuring himself as a character named Pimpin’ Curly.

He says he wasn’t responsible for the video’s 2009 release. But he says it was legally fair to use the images.

The woman’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.