According to a friend of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, Jada Pinkett Smith hurt Shakur’s feelings when she asked him not to harm Will Smith after the two started dating.

The friend, Mutah “Napoleon” Wassin Shabazz Beale, shared this information in a 2021 interview that recently resurfaced on the internet.

Beale said that Shakur had a lot of love and respect for Pinkett Smith but was upset when she asked him not to do anything to harm Will Smith. Beale said, “So I guess it kind of hurt him.”

Beale went on to say that he believes Shakur was okay with Pinkett Smith dating Will Smith because he “had no other choice.” Shakur respected Pinkett Smith and supported her, according to Beale.

Beale also talked about the similarities between Shakur and Will Smith, saying that Shakur was writing movie scripts and wanted to act in addition to his music career.

Pinkett Smith and Shakur met at the Baltimore School for the Arts in Maryland in the late 1980s and became close friends.

Pinkett Smith has previously stated that the two were never romantically involved.

Last year, on what would have been Shakur’s 50th birthday, Pinkett Smith shared a never-before-seen poem from Shakur.

Pinkett Smith also confirmed in a 2015 interview with Howard Stern that she and Shakur were not physically attracted to each other.

Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s marriage has been in the news recently following Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars.

The incident led to an investigation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which ultimately banned Smith from the Oscars for 10 years.

Smith announced his resignation from the academy on April 1. He apologized for his behavior at the awards ceremony, saying that “violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive.”

Smith also apologized to Rock in an Instagram post, saying that he was “embarrassed” and that his actions were “not indicative of the man I want to be.”

Rock has not publicly commented on the incident but said during a comedy show after the Oscars that he was still processing what had happened.

Meanwhile, Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk” Facebook Watch series is set to return with new episodes starting Wednesday.

Pinkett Smith and Shakur remained close friends until his death in 1996.

Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas at the age of 25.

Pinkett Smith has been open about her friendship with Shakur over the years, including discussing their relationship in interviews and sharing personal writings from Shakur on social media.

In addition to discussing her friendship with Shakur, Pinkett Smith has also been open about her struggles with hair loss.

In 2018, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.

The actress has often discussed the challenges of dealing with hair loss on social media and in interviews.

The incident at the Oscars involving Smith’s slap of Rock has drawn attention to the couple’s marriage.

Some have speculated that Smith’s behavior at the awards ceremony is indicative of underlying issues in their relationship.

However, both Smith and Pinkett Smith have publicly denied that there are any problems in their marriage.

In a 2018 interview with Tidal’s Rap Radar podcast, Smith said that he and Pinkett Smith have a strong relationship.

“We have a beautiful, magnificent relationship where we give each other the freedom to be who we are,” Smith said.

“We have a great time together and we’re partners in every sense of the word.”

Pinkett Smith has also spoken out in defense of their marriage, saying that rumors of infidelity and other issues are unfounded.

In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Pinkett Smith said that she and Smith have been through tough times but have always been able to work through their issues.

“We have been together for 23 years and we’ve been married for 20,” Pinkett Smith said.

“And we have had a beautiful journey thus far. I don’t think it’s easy to be married to anyone. I think that you have to go into a relationship knowing — especially when you’re dedicating yourself to someone for the rest of your life — this is a life partnership.”

Despite the rumors and speculation surrounding their marriage, Pinkett Smith and Smith have continued to support each other publicly.

In the wake of the Oscars incident, Pinkett Smith shared a photo of herself and Smith on Instagram, writing that she was “proud” of him for his performance in “King Richard” and for the way he handled the aftermath of the awards ceremony.

“Will, you are a champion for your art, and for all artists,” Pinkett Smith wrote. “I love you and I support you always.”

The couple has also been open about the challenges of parenting, with Pinkett Smith frequently discussing her experiences raising their two children, Jaden and Willow, in interviews and on social media.

The couple has been praised for their supportive and open approach to parenting, which has included allowing their children to pursue unconventional interests and career paths.

Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, Pinkett Smith and Smith have remained one of Hollywood’s most high-profile couples.

With their continued success in their careers and personal lives, it seems that the couple will continue to be a fixture in the public eye for years to come.