Jada Pinkett Smith Turned Down Role In ‘Dead Presidents’ Over Her Friendship With Tupac

Jada Pinkett Smith Turned Down Role In ‘Dead Presidents’ Over Her Friendship With Tupac

Tupac and Jada Pinkett Smith’s friendship has always been a popular topic. The two had been friends since childhood and remained close until Tupac’s untimely death 24 years ago. Their friendship was so strong, it appears Jada even turned down a movie role to show her loyalty. In a recent interview, actor Larenz Tate told Hip Hollywood that Jada turned down a role in the hit film, ‘Dead Presidents’ because it was directed by the Hughes Brothers. Tate said,

“We’re on set in New Orleans talking about that experience. I said, ‘I talked to the Hughes brothers and you were supposed to be in the movie.’ And she says ‘I was.’ She was like, ‘I couldn’t do it because, at the time, I was really close with Tupac and Tupac had this beef with the Hughes brothers.’

Tate continued,

“She had a good relationship with Tupac and she didn’t want to get in the middle of it. She thought if she had done that movie, it would’ve been a little weird.” 

Reportedly, Tupac’s feud with the Hughes Brothers stems from him being fired from the film ‘Menace II Society’ and later getting into a physical altercation with Allen Hugh. Dead Presidents premiered in 1995 and became an instant classic. The film chronicles the life of Anthony Curtis (played by Larenz Tate), focusing on his teenage years as a high school graduate and his experiences during the Vietnam War. As he returns to his hometown in The Bronx, Curtis finds himself struggling to support himself and his family, eventually turning to a life of crime.

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith

Tupac and Jada Pinkett Smith’s friendship was so tight, that it even made husband Will Smith jealous. In January 2020, Will Smith admitted that he was jealous of their friendship and that it even made him insecure. He revealed that he and Tupac didn’t get along because of the connection with Jada. Will said,

“We had a little bit of a thing because they grew up together and they loved each other but they never had a sexual relationship. But they had come into that age where now that was a possibility and then Jada was with me. So Pac had a little thing on that, but she just loved him. He was the image of perfection, but she was with the fresh prince.”

What are your thoughts on Jada turning down a movie role for her friendship with Tupac? Let us know in the comments below.