The acting community is in mourning after learning The Wire actor Michael K. Williams had been found dead of a suspected drug overdose in his Brooklyn apartment on Monday (September 6).
According to the New York Post, Williams’ body was discovered alongside drug paraphernalia, suggesting he’d taken a fatal dose of heroin or fentanyl.
But 50 Cent, who has built an impressive career in television since his glory days as a rapper, is catching flak for his recent post about Williams. Shortly after the news broke, Fiddy chose to use the New York Post‘s article about Williams’ death to promote his popular television show Raising Kanan.
“Damn if you didn’t see Raising Kanan check it out,” he captioned the post. “that fentanyl is no joke, killing the clientele. RIP michael k. williams.”
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In 2018, Michael K. Williams called out 50 Cent for allegedly spreading a false rumor about James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond getting jumped behind bars.
“I just stopped pass with a little message for anyone who may or may not be interested in anything they’ve heard in regards to Jimmy Rosemond on social media these past few days,” he wrote at the time. “They are completely false y’all. I speak to him and his team of lawyers on a regular basis and I assure you he is fine and in prayer.
“So with that I’ll say to anyone under the sound of this simple man’s voice God bless.”
50 Cent fired back, “Old Omar how much they pay you to play a punk PUNK. Mind your business da fuck wrong wit you.”
Williams was just 54 at the time of his death. The New York City native was initially discovered by the late Tupac Shakur, who recommended he play “High Top” in the 1996 film Bullet.
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But it wasn’t until The Wire that William gained national notoriety. Filming began in 2002 and Williams was tasked with playing Omar Little, a notorious Baltimore stick-up man.
Longtime New York City Hip Hop promoter Van Silk remembers him fondly, telling HipHopDX, “I met this brother when I was living in Baltimore from 1999 to 2010. Our best conversation was when he got booked for The Wire. Every week, he would come by my mixtape store at Paptasco Arena or he send his boy to get his package.
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“It was the same time Felicia Pearson, also known as Snoop, had wanted me to manage her because she got booked for The Wire. We all hung out at Club One and when my friend Tracy White was doing a lot of rap concerts. Another great brother gone too soon.”
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Williams’ nephew went to his uncle’s home on Monday after someone called cops just before 2 p.m. local time, saying there was a man there who was “unresponsive’’ and “feels cold.” He was pronounced dead at the scene. Fans of Williams were incensed by 50 Cent’s poorly timed Instagram post, so much so he became a trending Twitter topic.
Check out some of the reactions below.
