Janet Jackson Requested AIDS Test for Tupac Shakur Before Kissing Scene, New Book Claims
A new biography of Tupac Shakur details a request from Janet Jackson to studio executives that the rapper undergo an AIDS test before filming a kissing scene in their 1993 film, Poetic Justice. The revelation, stemming from the forthcoming book “Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur” by biographer Jeff Pearlman, sheds light on the tensions that reportedly existed between the two stars during production.
The request stemmed from concerns about Tupac Shakur’s well-known reputation in the early 1990s. According to the book, Jackson expressed her anxieties to a producer on the film, fearing potential health risks.
Pearlman details a significant disconnect between Jackson and Shakur on set. Jackson was described as a dedicated professional, while Shakur was characterized as more unpredictable, frequently arriving and departing as he pleased. This dynamic reportedly contributed to the rising tension leading up to the intimate scene.
Days before the scheduled kiss, Shakur allegedly made comments about “overwhelming Jackson with his lips and mouth.” This prompted Steve Nicolaides, a producer on Poetic Justice, to visit Jackson in her trailer. There, Jackson – accompanied by her then-fiancé, René Elizondo Jr. – voiced her concerns.
“She didn’t ‘want to swap saliva with him until I’m really sure that he’s healthy and clean,’” Nicolaides recounts to Pearlman. The producer then relayed the request to Shakur, who reportedly responded with an obscenity-laced tirade directed at Jackson and refused to comply with the testing request.
Nicolaides, however, expressed understanding for Jackson’s position, given the prevalence of AIDS in the early 1990s and Shakur’s established public image. “He admits Pac had garnered a rep, so it wasn’t the most unreasonable request,” Pearlman writes.
Despite the behind-the-scenes friction, Poetic Justice proved to be a commercial success, grossing $27 million at the box office on a budget of approximately $13.5 million. The film remains a beloved classic among fans.
“Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur” promises to reveal further untold stories about the life of the iconic rapper, suggesting the Janet Jackson incident is merely a glimpse into a complex and often turbulent career.
