50 Cent Takes Aim At Verizon CEO As STARZ Disappears

50 Cent is accusing Verizon CEO Dan Schulman of cutting New York and New Jersey viewers off from his STARZ television empire.

The rapper made the attack after Verizon Fios removed STARZ channels, on-demand programming and app access when a carriage agreement expired Wednesday night. Dan Schulman took over as Verizon’s chief executive in October 2025 after spending nine years leading digital payments giant PayPal.

The blackout reaches beyond 50 Cent’s New York-New Jersey warning because the failed renewal affects Verizon Fios customers receiving STARZ through the provider. STARZ Networks President Alison Hoffman blamed Verizon and said the company remains willing to restore service through a new distribution agreement. Hoffman said:

“Despite extensive efforts by STARZ to reach a renewal agreement and preserve uninterrupted access for Verizon Fios customers, Verizon has chosen to remove STARZ. Verizon has mischaracterized our position, shown an unwillingness to negotiate and has been unproductive in progressing towards a mutually beneficial outcome.”

His exclusive STARZ deal ended in 2022, but G-Unit Film & Television still produces projects there, including Fightland and continuing Power franchise installments. That tension has been public for years, especially when 50 Cent believed network decisions were delaying or mishandling programs carrying his name.