What’s soup got to do with it?!

Rapper and entrepreneur 50 Cent criticized Campbell’s Soup Company online after controversy over a leaked 2024 recording in which a former Campbell’s executive, Martin Bally, allegedly disparaged the brand and claimed the company used “3D-printed chicken” in its soups. 

50 Cent went viral after sharing the video of him tossing Campbell’s cans into the trash and questioning the quality of the product following the resurfaced controversy. Campbell’s entered that chat in 50’s comments, saying, “Hey 50 – to set the record straight, we use real, quality ingredients (real chicken!) and put a lot of care into every batch. Come see for yourself, we'd love to show you how we make our food!”

The company’s public responses reaffirmed that it uses “real, quality ingredients” sourced from USDA-approved suppliers and offered to show its manufacturing process to address concerns. 

Campbell’s fired the executive after the recording surfaced and issued statements defending its ingredients and quality. The company has repeatedly said it does not use 3D-printed or lab-grown chicken in its soups. 

The controversy all began last year when Robert Garza, hired as a cybersecurity analyst, secretly recorded his meeting with Bally that was supposed to discuss his salary. In the leaked recording, Bally allegedly called Campbell’s products “s### for f###### poor people” and claimed the company uses “bioengineered meat” and “3D printed chicken” in their soups, according to a lawsuit.

The Campbell’s brand acknowledged the recording’s authenticity in a statement on Nov. 26, calling Bally’s comments “vulgar, offensive and false” and apologizing “for the hurt they have caused.”

Garza reported the offensive comments to his manager, J.D. Aupperle, on January 10, but claims Aupperle did not encourage him to report the incident to human resources. Garza was terminated weeks after the incident and filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The suit seeks compensation for emotional, reputational, and economic harm. 

50 Cent’s video brought all of this back into the zeitgeist. People in the comments all laughed at 50’s trolling, but couldn’t help but notice the Louis Vuitton shopping bag in the trash can, under the Campbell’s cans. Many commenters related the luxury bag to his most recent “beef” with Olympic boxer Claressa Shields and her boyfriend, rapper Papoose, who have been going back and forth after 50 came for Pap’s pockets, claiming he was the brokest man rapper Remy Ma ever dated. Pap told Shields he’d handle it, but she jumped in defending her man. The LV bag reference could be seen as a reference to a recent LV shopping spree Shields took herself on for the holidays, and later posted that Pap got her some LV for Christmas as well. 

Back to the soup: 50 says he’s going to take them up on the offer to visit the factory, but he’s opened a can of…worms. Reportedly, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his Consumer Protection Division is investigating Campbell’s product quality.