Rosie Perez Reveals How Madonna Asked for Help to Hook Her Up with Tupac Shakur Ahead of Secret Relationship

Mar. 15, 2025

Rosie Perez; Madonna and Tupac Shakur in March 1994.Photo:Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty

Rosie Perezessentially played matchmaker forMadonnaandTupac Shakur.

On the Wednesday, Nov. 6 episode ofThe Drew Barrymore Show, theDo the Right Thingstar, 60, opened up about how she became Madge’s wing-woman when it came to the “How Do You Want It” rapper, perEntertainment Weekly.

Perez revealed that back in 1993, her then-beau had bailed on being her date to the Soul Train Music Awards, so her good friend Shakur stepped in instead.

Madonna and Tupac Shakur in March 1994.Patrick McMullan/Getty

Patrick McMullan/Getty

“So I was going to the Soul Train Music Awards and my date calls me upa half an hour before I’m getting in the car,” she said, “and says, ‘I can’t go with you because my girlfriend will see me.'”

At this point, an outraged Barrymore is ready to teleport back to 1993 and fight this man — whoever he may be — with her bare hands, but Perez continues.

“I was like, ‘You mother…!” she said. After the conversation with her ex-beau ended, the phone rang again and she initially thought it was the jerk she had been dating, but she realized it was Shakur. TheWhite Men Can’t Jumpactress then began crying and spilled the story to him.

“And 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 todie,'“Perez recalled.

“She was there and she came up to me and she was like, ‘Yo, what’s up? Y’all are together?’ And I said, ‘No,’ she goes, ‘Really?’ I go, ‘Yeah,’ she goes, ‘Hook me up. I said, ‘You got it,'” theBirds of Preyactress said.

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Tupac Shakur, Sting, Madonna and Ingrid Casares.Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media/Getty

Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media/Getty

Madonna and the “Hit Em Up” musician dated secretly from 1993 to 1994.

In 2015, the Queen of Popconfirmed their relationshipduring an interview withHoward Stern.

“I was dating Tupac Shakur … and he got me all riled up on life in general,” the “Ray of Light” artist said at the time, adding that she felt “very gangster” with him.

source: people.com