Sophia Michaels
Tupac Shakur, born Lesane Parish Crooks, never had the chance to experience California love from Will Smith. The two first met in 1994 on the set of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” two years before Tupac was tragically killed in a Las Vegas drive-by. Smith was consumed with envy over Tupac’s long-standing friendship with Jada Pinkett, and refused to ever speak to him.
Tupac and Pinkett had known each other since childhood and had a strong bond. This didn’t sit well with Smith, who was still married to Sheree Zampino while dating Pinkett. Despite Pinkett’s attempts to get Smith to give Tupac a chance, Smith was unable to overcome his jealousy. He wrote in his memoir, “I hated that he was what I wasn’t in the world, and I suffered a raging jealousy: I wanted Jada to look at me like that.” Smith said he felt “validated” when Pinkett chose him over Tupac.
