He dropped from 214 pounds to an astonishing 160 with a liquid diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks for nine weeks.
"I was starving." Now he's back on tour and says, "I've been eating. I'll be back in shape in no time!"
These shocking pictures look like a homeless man who has not eaten for weeks.
But they are actually photos of multi-millionaire rapper 50 cent, who lost a staggering 54lbs in just nine weeks for a film role.
The hip-hop star went on a liquid-only diet and worked out for three hours a day to achieve the staggering weight loss.
He is due to play a cancer-stricken American football player in a forthcoming film and wanted to look authentic for the part..
In the past 50 cent has made much of his muscular body, often appearing topless in videos and showing off his huge frame.
The 34-year-old is starring and co-producing 'Things Fall Apart', which will also feature Ray Liotta and is directed by Mario van Peebles.
Soon after the dramatic weight loss pictures were posted on his website, 50cent.com, rumours swept the internet they were a hoax.
But in a statement the star, real name Curtis Jackson, said they were true.
'I was starving,' he said, adding that now he is back on tour, 'I've been eating. I'll be back in shape in no time!'
'50 Cent lost a lot of weight for his upcoming movie Things Fall Apart,' said the text between the pictures of him.
'In the movie 50 Cent plays a football player diagnosed with cancer.
He dropped from 214 pounds to an astonishing 160 with a liquid diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks for nine weeks.'
The rapper's achievement still does not top that of Christian Bale, who lost 63lbs for his role in the dark mystery film 'The Machinist'.
Bale went from 185lbs to 122lbs to look like he 'had not slept for a year' and did it by cutting out most foods and relentlessly exercising.
