Pop icon Janet Jackson reportedly requested that her co-star Tupac Shakur undergo an AIDS test before filming a kissing scene for the 1993 film Poetic Justice, according to newly released material. The claim originates from the upcoming biography
Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur by author Jeff Pearlman. In an excerpt published by The Hollywood Reporter, Jackson allegedly told producer Steve Nicolaides: “I don’t want to swap saliva with him until I’m really sure that he’s healthy and clean.”
Nicolaides reportedly approached Shakur with the request and says the rapper responded with explicit anger and refused. “He never got the test,” the excerpt states.
The alleged exchange highlights mounting tension on the Poetic Justice set. Jackson conveyed unease about Shakur’s off-set reputation and asked director John Singleton to intervene. According to Pearlman’s research, Jackson claimed Singleton “just walked off when I mentioned it,” so she turned to Nicolaides instead.
Shakur’s reaction reportedly included statements along the lines of: “F- her … Hell no … I ain’t doing s- for that bitch.”
Nicolaides later reflected: “I honestly think he found it amusing. And the truth is, I can’t blame Janet for asking. It was the early 1990s, and people were still dying of AIDS. And Tupac, God love him, had a reputation.”
Despite the conflict, the film moved forward. Jackson played Justice and Shakur starred as Lucky opposite her. The film reportedly grossed over $27 million domestically.
Reflection on the Era
The request underscores broader fears at the time. In her insistence, Jackson seemingly acted from concern about health and safety, given the public awareness of AIDS in the early 1990s. The book positions her exchange as “understandable” in context.
From Shakur’s standpoint, the demand may have felt affronting or mistrusting, especially as he had a growing film and music career. Jackson’s status and salary on the project reportedly stood in contrast to Shakur’s modest compensation, fuelling further friction.
Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur draws on nearly 700 interviews and a vast archive of documents, according to its publisher.
Neither Jackson nor Shakur’s estate has publicly confirmed or denied the specific testing request.