Janet Jackson, 60, Arrives at the 2026 BET Awards in a ’90s-Inspired Outfit That Left Fans with Questions — Photos

On the Facebook reel, a confused fan questioned the move, writing, “2Pac said Janet Jackson blocked him right after the movie poetic justice in a interview, I’m confuse [sic].”

According to an excerpt from Jeff Pearlman’s book, “Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur,“ Janet and Tupac’s time on the 1993 film “Poetic Justice” was incredibly rocky.

Director John Singleton’s first choice for the leading man was actually Ice Cube, who turned down the role over unchangeable character elements.

Singleton then set up a screen test at an office where the pop star and the rapper first met. Though the rapper was warm and reserved during the meeting, he later bragged to his Oakland crew over joints and drinks that he would definitely have sex with her.

The movie was filmed from April 14, 1992, to July 4, 1992, co-starring Regina King and comedian Joe Torry. Singleton wanted the core cast to bond over dinners, but Janet reportedly remained standoffish in her own private trailer.

A massive financial gap between the two main performers is said to have caused immediate friction on set. Janet earned a seven-figure salary, while Tupac earned less than $100,000.

Friend Dupré Kelly remembered the rapper complaining about his simple car service compared to her helicopter arrivals. Actor John Cothran thought the financial complaints were absurd because he did not even know who the rapper was yet.

While staying at the Loews Santa Monica hotel, the rapper was placed in the smallest room while Janet enjoyed a luxury suite. Hotel manager Lesa McRoyal-Fouther frequently had to ask him to turn down his music and clear out the marijuana smoke after guest complaints.

On set, actress Jenifer Lewis noted that the rapper completely owned every scene he was in. However, he was chronically late, constantly ad-libbed, and frequently arrived high or drunk.

He once showed up an hour late to a highly anticipated love scene with fresh gauze covering his chest. He impulsively got a new tattoo, which made Singleton apoplectic over contract violations.

Janet was allegedly deeply turned off by his unprofessional approach and his constant efforts to steal attention. The tension reached a breaking point right before they were scheduled to film a romantic kissing scene.

Tupac had reportedly been bragging about how he planned to overwhelm the pop star with his lips and tongue. Disgusted, Janet and her fiancé, René Elizondo Jr., summoned producer Nicolaides to their trailer.

According to Nicolaides, Janet refused to swap saliva with him without an AIDS test, noting that people were dying of the disease. Nicolaides, who previously worked on “When Harry Met Sally,“ had to deliver the awkward message. The rapper completely refused the request.

Janet’s Changing Facial Features Raise Questions

The controversial tribute shirt was not the only detail that left the audience with lingering questions. Viewers also focused heavily on the singer’s physical appearance, noticing dramatic facial changes.

A concerned observer on the Facebook reel noted her changing physique, writing, “Lost a lot of weight hope it’s healthy weight loss.” Others felt her face was unrecognizable compared to her classic look.

A commenter on a People Magazine Facebook post asked, “Those aren’t the same lips..what happened to her face?” and “Her face looks so different.”

One blunt user even claimed she “barely even looks like her anymore” and that she was “giving Melania Trump vibes…” while another asked, “What’s going on with her eyes?”

Another fan praised her casual attire, noting, “I love that she is wearing street clothes instead of these barely there dresses. You get to see who she is as an artist and a person.”

Janet’s Self-Image Battle Under the Spotlight

Public scrutiny over Janet’s body is certainly nothing new for the star. She has faced constant conversations regarding her weight and image since her childhood acting days.

During a past interview with Anderson Cooper, she recalled her very first episode of the television show Good Times. A wardrobe lady bound her chest with bandages because she developed at a young age, leaving her feeling inadequate.

Producers called the next season of “Good Times” to say she was too heavy and needed to lose baby fat, cementing early insecurities that her natural self was not good enough. | Source: Getty Images

In an older interview with Extra, she stated that tabloid rumors about plastic surgery pissed her off because she had worked incredibly hard to get back into shape. | Source: Getty Images

Janet did confirm one early procedure, revealing she changed her nose at age 16. | Source: Getty Images

While she expressed a desire to avoid looking overly pulled or snatched, she told Allure magazine that she prefers a middle path for aging. | Source: Getty Images

Instead of freezing her face, she prefers what she calls a little bit of zhuzh. She noted that her trainer once warned her that being too thin could make her cheeks look gaunt. | Source: Getty Images