50 Cent Says He Hired Courtney Kemp as Power Creator
The rapper renewed his dispute with the series writer after Omari Hardwick admitted a shift occurred in the show's production.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
Curtain rises on a new round of conflict in the Power franchise. 50 Cent declared that Courtney Kemp forgot he hired her to create the Starz series. The statement landed on X on Sunday, November 8, 2026. It followed a new interview with Omari Hardwick. The actor plays Ghost, the lead character in the show. The dispute centers on creative credit and the timeline of the character's death.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Hardwick addressed the allegations. He stated that a change happened behind the scenes during the series run. He said, There was definitely a shift. He added that talented people are often treated poorly. He refused to side with either 50 Cent or Kemp in the public argument. He told the interviewer, I never said anything, did I? He noted that he always supports 50 Cent and prays for Kemp.
50 Cent reacted to the interview on social media. He reposted the clip of Hardwick speaking. He wrote a caption that read, Small a** in a BIG seat, she forgot I hired her. He claimed that Hardwick kept it real in the conversation. He also said the team hit the bullseye with the show. The post did not tag Kemp directly. The tone mirrors a previous claim from the rapper.
The tension began in October with a Variety interview. 50 Cent accused Kemp of taking excessive credit for the series. He claimed he was instrumental in expanding the franchise. He alleged that Kemp wanted to kill off the Ghost character as early as Season 3. He also made claims about Kemp having inappropriate relationships with cast and crew. He has not provided public evidence for the relationship claims.
Kemp responded to the October claims by disputing his account. She emphasized that she created and wrote the series. She acknowledged that 50 Cent helped bring Power to television. The core disagreement is whether 50 Cent's role in the franchise expansion warrants the credit he claims. Kemp has not publicly responded to Hardwick's new comments. She also has not addressed 50 Cent's latest post on X.
Hardwick has a history of friction with 50 Cent. The rapper previously said on a podcast that Hardwick overvalues himself. He confirmed the two were no longer on good terms. In 2022, Hardwick spoke on The Pivot podcast about his pay. He said he earned $150,000 per episode. He felt that amount was low for the main star of a Starz show. This context adds weight to 50 Cent's comments about ego and pay.
The Power series ended in 2020. The franchise has continued with multiple spinoff projects. The characters remain popular in modern television drama. Ghost is one of the most recognized roles in the genre. The unresolved dispute over credit leaves the narrative of the show's creation in question. Kemp maintains her role as the writer and creator. 50 Cent maintains his role as the hiring force behind her.
