Janet Jackson allegedly asked Tupac Shakur to take AIDS test before kissing scene in Poetic Justice

Janet Jackson allegedly asked Tupac Shakur to take AIDS test before kissing scene in Poetic Justice

Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur’s on-screen chemistry in Poetic Justice is undeniable, but behind the scenes, it was a different story. A new book, Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur by Jeff Pearlman, reveals a tension-filled moment between the two stars that stemmed from an unusual request.

According to an excerpt published in The Hollywood Reporter, Jackson allegedly asked that Shakur take an AIDS test before they filmed their kissing scene for the 1993 John Singleton-directed film. The request, as the book claims, was made through the film’s producer Steve Nicolaides. Jackson is quoted as saying, “You know, Tupac’s reputation is that he’s a cat about town. And I don’t want to swap saliva with him until I’m really sure that he’s healthy and clean.”

Pearlman writes that Jackson had previously raised her concerns with Singleton, but the director reportedly brushed it off. Frustrated, she turned to Nicolaides, asking him to intervene. The producer then took the matter directly to Shakur. “I’ll just spit this out to you, man… Janet wants you to have an AIDS test before you kiss her,” Nicolaides recalled telling him.

Shakur’s reaction, according to the book, was far from accommodating. Pearlman reports that the rapper responded angrily, allegedly saying, “F--- her. Hell no. I ain’t doing s--- for that bitch. Tell her to go f--- herself.” Despite the heated exchange, Nicolaides later reflected that Shakur seemed more amused than offended. “And the truth is, I can’t blame Janet for asking,” he added. “It was the early 1990s, and people were still dying of AIDS. And Tupac, God love him, had a reputation.”

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At the time, AIDS paranoia was widespread, especially in Hollywood, where misinformation and stigma were still rampant. The incident offers a glimpse into how cultural fears intersected with celebrity dynamics and the growing awareness around sexual health in the early ’90s.

Poetic Justice was Singleton’s follow-up to his acclaimed Boyz n the Hood and cast Jackson as Justice, a young poet and hairstylist who embarks on a road trip from Los Angeles to Oakland alongside postal worker Lucky, played by Shakur. While the pair’s off-screen relationship was strained, their chemistry brought emotional depth to the film.