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John Singleton: Biopic Producers 'Aren't Really Respectful' of Tupac

The director explains why he is no longer involved in the film.

The drama continues behind the scenes of the long-awaited Tupac biopic. A day after it was announced that John Singleton is off the project, to be replaced by Carl Franklin, the Boyz N the Hood director is sharing his side of what went down.
Singleton revealed last week that his involvement with the project was "on hold," but fell short of explaining why. Now that he's been replaced, however, he's ready to spill the tea.

IN MY LIFETIME: MUSIC BIOPICS

"Real talk! The reason I am not making this picture is because the people involved aren't really respectful of the legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur," Singleton wrote on Instagram. "I won't say much if you want you can read my articles in Hollywood Reporter on authenticity in Black Storytelling ... To Pac's real fans just know I am still planning a movie on Tupac ... It doesn't matter what they do mines [sic] will be better... Tupac was much more than a hip hop artist ... He was a Black man guided by his passions ... Of most importance was his love of Black people and culture ... Something the people involved in this movie know nothing about." 
He continued, "Real talk! How you gonna make a movie about a man when you suing his mother to get the rights to tell his story?! They have no true love 4 Pac so this movie will not be made with love! And that's why my a** isn't involved ! If Tupac knew what was going on he'd ride on all these fools and take it to the streets... But I won't do that ... I'll just make my own project. What Yall think about that?!!"
So, according to Singleton's rant, it looks like production company Morgan Creek is suing Afeni Shakur for the life rights to Tupac's story, and Singleton is working on a biopic of his own. 
Hopefully this won't further delay the making of the biopac fans have been waiting the better part of a decade for.
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(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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