LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Paramount removed some Los Angeles billboards promoting 50 Cent's movie "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" amid complaints they glorified gang violence.
About a half-dozen of the billboards with the rap star holding a gun in one hand and a microphone in the other were taken down, most near the city's schools, Daily Variety reported Friday.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich had asked Paramount in a letter to remove its billboards because they promote gun violence. His request echoed demands from a Los Angeles coalition that threatened to organize a boycott if the billboards were not removed.
"Get Rich or Die Tryin'" -- based on the rapper's journey from drug dealing gang banger to world famous musician -- is scheduled to open Nov. 9.
Variety said no protests were lodged against other film billboards featuring firearms, such as the recent ones of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for Fox's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
