50 Cent Verizon feud: Shocking jab as Starz goes dark
The 50 Cent Verizon feud started as Starz went dark on Verizon Fios. The “Power” executive producer used Instagram to blame Verizon CEO Dan Schulman after the two companies failed to renew their carriage deal, which expired at midnight Sept. 30, TheWrap reported Oct. 1.
Fios TV customers have lost Starz’s channels, Starz On Demand and access to the Starz app through their Fios accounts, according to TheWrap. We covered the blackout itself in our report on the Starz Fios blackout.
What 50 Cent said about Verizon
“New beef alert. If you’re in NY or NJ you won’t be able to see the ‘Power’ universe or other shows I produce for Starz because this s— head Dan Schulman decided there is no need for diversity,” 50 Cent wrote, as quoted by TheWrap. “He said no one watches Starz in NY or NJ.”
The rapper, whose legal name is Curtis Jackson, did not say where or when Schulman supposedly made that remark, and it could not be independently confirmed. AllHipHop also reported on the post. TheWrap’s report did not include a Verizon response to the post, which turned a quiet carriage fight into a public 50 Cent Verizon clash.
Jackson starred in and executive produced the original “Power,” which ran for 6 seasons on Starz from 2014 to 2020, and his production company has made several shows for Starz in the franchise.
Starz and Verizon trade blame beyond the 50 Cent Verizon spat
Before the blackout, Starz Networks President Alison Hoffman warned that Starz had been negotiating “in good faith” and told viewers to “be prepared for Verizon to remove Starz,” Deadline reported. In that statement, she called Starz “an independent programmer dedicated to women and underrepresented audiences.”
After the deal lapsed, Hoffman said, “Verizon has mischaracterized our position, shown an unwillingness to negotiate and has been unproductive in progressing towards a mutually beneficial outcome.”
Verizon pushed back before the shutoff. “Starz is attempting to use public pressure to force higher rates on our customers which would directly drive up monthly bills for the families we serve,” the company said, according to TheWrap. Verizon called the public warnings “an unnecessary pressure tactic” and said it remained “actively engaged in constructive discussions.”
Verizon’s statement also touched on the diversity issue 50 Cent raised. “Verizon is committed to offering a wide variety of diverse programming across our lineup, while also protecting our viewers from unjustified price increases,” the company said. Hoffman, for her part, described Starz as “one of the few remaining independent entertainment companies in a marketplace increasingly dominated by large media and telecommunications conglomerates.”
What the 50 Cent Verizon fight means for fans
Starz said the blackout cuts Fios customers off from its full lineup, including the “Power” universe and “Power: Origins,” “Outlander,” “Outlander: Blood of My Blood,” “P-Valley,” “S.W.A.T. Exiles,” “Fightland” and “Tip Toe,” plus films in its library such as “Michael,” according to a Starz news release.
The good news is that Starz’s standalone streaming service is not part of the dispute. Fios customers can still subscribe to Starz directly and keep watching, Deadline noted. Streaming already makes up about three-quarters of Starz’s subscriber base, and the company ended 2025 with 17.6 million subscribers, Deadline reported.
Because Starz does not carry live sports or news, the 50 Cent Verizon spat is unlikely to move the industry the way fights over sports-heavy networks do. For “Power” fans on Fios in New York and New Jersey, though, the loss is real until a deal is done.
What’s next
Neither company has said when talks will resume, and Hoffman said Starz “stands ready” to reach a deal that restores the channels. Until then, the 50 Cent Verizon standoff leaves Fios viewers with a direct Starz subscription as their main way to keep watching. For more on what to watch, visit our TV & Streaming section.
