The rapper 50 Cent has told a magazine that he is backing President Barack Obama’s personal support of equal marriage for same sex couples, but argues that organisations should be created to protect the rights of heterosexual men, who might be at risk of gay men touching them up in an elevator.

50 Cent is an unlikely convert to the cause of gay couples marrying as he had previously suggested that men should kill themselves if they didn’t enjoy performing sexual acts on a woman. He also joked organising a “shoot-up” at a gay couple’s wedding.

Now 50 Cent told Vibe: “I think everyone should be happy. I think a fool is going to go against same sex marriage at this point.” Pointing to the support of equality by President Obama, he added:”Look how long it took him [Obama] to say he was for same sex marriages. You understand? I’m up for it. If everyone else is for it, then hey, to each his own. I don’t have personal feelings towards it because I’m not involved in that lifestyle. I want people to be happy. It makes for everything to be better.”

But he suggested that as LGBT people gain more rights there is a need for organisations to stand up for the rights of heterosexual men. He said: “We need organisations for straight men. We do. We need organisations for straight men in the case you’ve been on the elevator and somebody decides they want to grab your little buns. Times are changing. Those organizations are set up for at one point they were being attacked for those choices. Now its completely different. Obviously [homosexuality] is more socially accepted.”

In 2010, 50 Cent wrote: “If you [are] a man and your [sic] over 25 and you don’t eat pu**y just kill yourself damn it. The world will be a better place.”

The star, real name Curtis Jackson, posted the message shortly after the death of 19-year-old Tyler Clementi.

The New Jersey student killed himself after his roommate allegedly put a secret tape of him having sex with a man on the internet.

Three other US teens have killed themselves in the last month as a result of homophobic bullying.

50 Cent’s tweet was picked up by gay singer Will Young, who tweeted sarcastically: “50 Cent… He is [a] nice man isn’t he.”

The rapper was criticised in 2010 by GLAAD for joking about “anti-gay violence”.

Referring to gay celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, he tweeted: “Perez Hilton calld me douchebag [sic] so I had my homie shoot up a gay wedding. wasnt his but still made me feel better.”

He attached a picture of two men in suits running from an angry crowd.

2005 the rapper said: “Being gay isn’t cool – it’s not what the music is based on. There’s always been conflict at the centre of hip-hop, because it’s all about which guy has the competitive edge, and you can’t be that aggressive if you’re gay.”