More posters for 50 Cent's new film 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' have been removed from billboards following a further barrage of complaints. As previously reported, the film's producer Paramount agreed to remove posters in the Los Angeles area following a series of protests about the image on the promotional material which shows Fiddy with a gun in one hand and a microphone in the other. Now promoters Clear Channel have agreed to remove 21 posters in Philadelphia.
Bilal Qayyum of Men United For A Better Philadelphia said: "The message could be 'rob to get rich' ... It's a very offensive message that is part of a mind-set that says you can solve problems with violence." He added some praise for Clear Channel for their decision to get rid of the posters, saying: "They showed corporate responsibility."
Meanwhile George Kauker, president of the Philadelphia division of Clear Channel Outdoor, said: "Based on clear and vocal negative response from local Philadelphia community groups, we agreed to remove this particular advertisement." The decision, of course, applies to the Philadelphia area only.
The film, which as you probably all know, is a semi-autobiographical movie about a drug dealer who turns away from crime to pursue rap music, opens in the US on Wednesday. As is always the way, all these protests about the poster will presumably help business at the box office.