50 Cent has been slammed by fans after sharing a post mocking Irv Gotti's death.
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As previously reported, the famed music producer and co-founder of Murder Inc. Records tragically died at 54 on Wednesday, Febraury 5.
Gotti's death was confirmed by his children - Angie, Sonny, and JJ - who posted on his official Instagram page that he passed away "surrounded by his family and friends," per Sky News.
Describing their father as an "incredible man" and "true visionary," they wrote that he left "behind a legacy that will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and the countless lives he touched".
"As we navigate this difficult time, we kindly ask for privacy while we grieve the loss of our dad, son, brother, uncle, and friend. We take comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on through his music and the love he shared with all of us," the family statement added.
A cause of death has not been disclosed. However, a source told PEOPLE Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., had a series of strokes in recent years and was a diabetic.
50 Cent, who had been embroiled in a bitter rivalry with Gotti for over two decades, took the moment to share a distasteful post mocking the late producer instead of offering condolences.
The 49-year-old rapper shared a photo on Instagram of himself smoking hookah while lounging next to a tombstone that read “RIP.” The second image in the post was an old red carpet picture of Gotti.
“I’m smoking on dat Gotti pack, nah God bless him LOL,” the 'In Da Club' musician captioned his post.
Many fans slammed the rapper for his disrespectful tribute in the comment section, with one writing: "Imagine being a 50-year-old man mocking someone's death for clickbait because if he posts about his concerts or achievements they get no likes."
Another said: "Somethings just aren't funny and this is one of those things," while a third added: "Super lame."
This isn’t the first time 50 Cent has publicly mocked Gotti’s health problems.
When news first broke that Gotti was on life support, the 'Candyshop" artist posted a now-deleted post on Instagram, writing: “Damn, I wanted him to see my new shows yo!” according to Complex.
Back in August 2024, after reports surfaced that the record label founder had suffered a stroke, 50 Cent didn’t hold back. He allegedly shared a leaked photo of Gotti walking with a cane and quoted lyrics from his 2002 hit “W*nksta”:
“Damn homie, in high school you was the man homie, WT* happened to you?” The rapper added, “I want Irv to get well, so he can have to watch my next wave LOL,” cited by The New York Post.
50 Cent and Gotti’s beef dates back to the late ’90s when their labels - Gotti’s Murder Inc. and 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records - were at war.
The animosity reportedly began in 1999 when an associate of the 'Many Men' rapper allegedly robbed Ja Rule, Murder Inc.’s top artist at the time, per Daily Mail.
Things escalated the following year when 50 Cent was allegedly stabbed during a fight with Murder Inc. executives at the Hit Factory studio in New York. Rapper Black Child later took responsibility for the stabbing.
Then, in May 2000, the '21 Questions' rapper was shot nine times outside his grandmother’s home in Queens.
Investigators believed the attack was orchestrated by drug lord Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, who had ties to Gotti and Murder Inc. - though McGriff was never charged in connection with the shooting.
Over the years, the feud has played out publicly, with 50 Cent taking every opportunity to taunt Gotti, including when he mocked the late executive for claiming he had a past relationship with Ashanti amid her rekindled romance with Nelly, as reported by Vibe.
While 50 Cent took his usual jabs, other figures in the hip-hop community paid their respects to Gotti.
Ja Rule, 48, kept it simple, posting a broken heart emoji on X, while Def Jam Recordings, where Gotti got his start, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.
“His contributions at Def Jam, as both an A&R executive and in partnership with Murder Inc., helped pave the way for the next generation of artists and producers, a force that reshaped the soundscape of hip-hop and R&B.”
The statement continued, “His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who were touched by his work.”