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50 Cent just threw a wrench into his entire Shreveport empire by posting cryptic messages about pulling back from the Red River District, and now the mayor’s vague comments are also making everything look uncertain.
The rapper’s G-Unit deal, which was supposed to transform downtown Shreveport into an entertainment hub, is suddenly in question after he claimed on Instagram that people in the city don’t want things to get better.
When Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said on July 22 that representatives had been talking to each other, 50 Cent’s legal team immediately called him out, saying they hadn’t heard anything from the city’s side.
The tension started when 50 Cent posted on July 13 that he was going to “pull back on The Red River” because certain people in Shreveport weren’t interested in progress.
According to KSLA, the mayor tried to downplay the situation by claiming ongoing conversations, but 50 Cent’s response was direct.
He checked with his lawyers, and they confirmed they hadn’t received any communication from the city.
The mayor’s exact words were telling, though.
He said 50 Cent has three public projects he’s received state funds for “Any negotiation can be difficult at times and strains relationships and we have to keep our eye on the ball, look for a deal that’s good for the people of Shreveport and Mr. Jackson, or not. And that’s what we have to work on,” Mayor Arceneaux said.
That “or not” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
The stakes here are massive. Back in January, 50 Cent’s G-Unit finalized a $124 million investment deal with Louisiana to develop three entertainment venues in downtown Shreveport.
An economic impact study commissioned by G-Unit estimated the project would generate $18.8 billion in economic impact and support around 6,000 jobs over the next 20 years, with roughly $300 million in wages flowing into the state.
In June, 50 Cent held a groundbreaking ceremony for the G-Dome at Commerce and Travis streets, saying that Shreveport would be “totally new” in five years.
But things got complicated. Back in May, the Red River District revitalization plans got put on hold after city inspectors found major repairs were needed before any deal could move forward.
50 Cent’s already invested millions in downtown property acquisitions for what he’s calling his “50 Cent Economic District,” and local business owners are worried about what a pullback could mean for the struggling downtown area.
The mayor insists 50 Cent isn’t abandoning Shreveport entirely, but the uncertainty is real.