When it comes to being dubbed an FBI informant, Pras Michele is not backing down. The Fugees member is preparing a lawsuit against 50 Cent, Kyrie Irving, and Rolling Stone.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Pras’ attorney sent a set of legal notifications to 50, Irving, and Rolling Stone on May 10 for mislabeling him as an FBI agent. The complaint was filed in reaction to a Rolling Stone article that dubbed Pras a “FBI informant,” as well as social media posts in which 50 branded him a “rat” and Irving supported the “informant” charges.
According to NPR, the “Ghetto Superstar” rapper was convicted in federal court last month on ten counts connected to conspiracy, witness tampering, and failing to register as a Chinese agent. On the 18th of April, Rolling Stone published a piece referring to Pras as “an informal FBI informant.” According to Hip Hop DX, the item was later amended to indicate he “voluntarily met with FBI agents.”
Jonathan Noah Schwartz, Pras’ representative, told Rolling Stone that the piece caused Pras to lose commercial relationships, which harmed his music revenue.
“IT IS AND WAS ABSOLUTELY AND DEMONSTRABLY FALSE FOR YOU TO PUBLISH THAT MICHEL WAS A ‘GOVERNMENT INFORMANT,’” SCHWARTZ WROTE TO ROLLING STONE.
“Labeling a Hip Hop artist such as Michel, the reputation of whom is dependent upon ‘street credibility’ and not being a ‘snitch,’ a ‘government informant’ most certainly tends to subject said Hip Hop (sic) artist to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt, and/or disgrace, along with injury in their trade or profession.”
On April 24, 50 Cent shared a screenshot of a headline naming Pras as an FBI informant in a since-deleted Instagram post, saying, “I knew this fool was a Rat! I’m glad I never fvck with this guy.”
The following day, Irving referred to Pras in a tweet, saying, “A whole FBI informant was in the Fugees for that long??”
And that’s why a rapper, NBA star, and media outlet may have to pay up.