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Rosie Perez gave a rare insight into Madonna and late Tupac Shakur’s secret relationship.
The actress told “Drew Barrymore Show” viewers Wednesday about the moment the Queen of Pop, 66, met the rapper at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards.
Since Perez’s original date stood her up a half hour before she was set to leave, Shakur stepped in to accompany her.
The run-in took place at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images The rapper accompanied Perez after her date stood her up. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images“He said, ‘You know what, I’m gonna go with you, we’re gonna walk up in there, we’re gonna act like we’re on a date, and he’s going to die,'” the Oscar nominee, 60, recalled.
While there, Madonna approached Perez about Shakur.
“She was there and she came up to me and she was like, ‘Yo, what’s up? Y’all are together?'” the former “View” co-host remembered. “And I said, ‘No.’ She goes, ‘Really?’ I go, ‘Yeah.'”
Perez told “Drew Barrymore Show” viewers Wednesday that Madonna approached her. The Drew Barrymore Show/Youtube When the actress said she and Shakur weren’t “together,” Madonna replied, “Hook me up.” Getty ImagesWant more celebrity and pop culture news?
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When Madonna subsequently asked Perez to “hook [her] up,” the Emmy nominee replied, “You got it.”
The “Like a Virgin” singer dated Shakur from 1993 to 1994 — but didn’t publicize the relationship until 2015.
By the time she revealed the romance to “Howard Stern Show” listeners, the actor had been dead for nearly 20 years.
The Queen of Pop dated Shakur from 1993 to 1994. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images She confirmed the romance in 2015, nearly two decades after Shakur’s passing. Getty Images“I was dating Tupac Shakur … and he got me all riled up on life in general,” Madonna said at the time, saying she felt “very gangster” with him.
Tupac’s brother, Mopreme Shakur, later confirmed the relationship.
Snoop Dogg has also spoken about the former couple’s time together, telling Howard Stern in 2018 that Madonna was once “along for the ride” when Tupac drove over to give him weed.
Madonna said she felt “very gangster” during their time together. / SplashNews.com Shakur wrote a letter to her from prison post-split, which was auctioned off in 2019. Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesThe following year, a letter from Tupac to Madonna, written while he served time in New York for sexual assault, was auctioned off against her wishes.
In the note, the “Changes” rapper addressed their breakup.
“At the risk of sounding over dramatic, the effects of racism make it difficult for a young black man to properly show affection for an older white woman,” he wrote.