Janet Jackson wanted Tupac Shakur to take an AIDS test before Poetic Justice kissing scene, new b...

&34;I don't want to swap saliva with him until I'm really sure that he's healthy and clean,&34; the singer told her producer, according to the new book &34;Only

"I don't want to swap saliva with him until I'm really sure that he's healthy and clean," the singer told her producer, according to the new book "Only God Can Judge Me."

Janet Jackson wanted Tupac Shakur to take an AIDS test before Poetic Justice kissing scene, new book claims

"I don't want to swap saliva with him until I'm really sure that he's healthy and clean," the singer told her producer, according to the new book "Only God Can Judge Me."

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

on October 21, 2025 6:56 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Tupac Shakur and Janet Jackson in 'Poetic Justice'. Credit:

Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett

- Janet Jackson told a producer she wanted Tupac Shakur to be tested for AIDS before kissing him on screen, according to a new book.

- The two musicians led the romantic drama *Poetic Justice* in 1993.

- The book, *Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur*, claims that Shakur refused Jackson's request.

Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur have electrifying chemistry in *Poetic Justice* — but a new book claims that their relationship on set was anything but friendly.

In an excerpt from *Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur* published in *The Hollywood Reporter*, author Jeff Pearlman claims that the "That's the Way Love Goes" singer wanted her costar to get checked for AIDS before they performed a kissing scene for the 1993 film, according to the film's producer.

The book claims that Jackson said, "You know, Tupac's reputation is that he's a cat about town" during a conversation with producer Steve Nicolaides. "And I don't want to swap saliva with him until I'm really sure that he's healthy and clean," she allegedly added.

Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur in 'Poetic Justice'.

Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett

Pearlman claims that Jackson told Nicolaides she had already asked director John Singleton to address her concerns to no avail. "John just walked off when I mentioned it," the singer alleged, in Pearlman's telling. "So I'm asking you to handle it."

** has reached out to Nicolaides and representatives for Jackson for comment.

Suge Knight alleges Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, 'gave him pills' to help him die

Janet Jackson and Paris Jackson reunite at Paris Fashion Week

The book goes on to recount an alleged conversation between Nicolaides and Shakur. "I'll just spit this out to you, man…Janet wants you to have an AIDS test before you kiss her," Nicolaides said (per Pearlman).

The book claims that Shakur was displeased with Jackson's alleged request, responding with choice phrases such as "F--- her," "Hell no," and "I ain't doing s--- for that bitch. Tell her to go f--- herself."

According to Pearlman, Nicolaides later said, "I honestly think he found it amusing," of Shakur's evaluation of the situation. "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."

Janet Jackson in New York City on Sept. 8, 2023.

Gilbert Flores/Getty

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*Poetic Justice* was Singleton's second film, following his Oscar-nominated debut *Boyz n the Hood*. The film sees a poet-slash-hairstylist (Jackson) form an unexpected bond with a postal worker (Shakur) as they travel from Los Angeles to Oakland with their friends.

Jackson received an Oscar nomination for the film — not for her acting, but for her original song "Again," which she co-wrote alongside Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song ultimately lost to Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia" from *Philadelphia*.

*Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur* is available now.

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

Read More

---

Source: EVENING MAG

Full Article on Source: EVENING MAG

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities