A film about Tupac Shakur has divided audiences in America

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Demetrius Shipp Jr, who plays Tupac in the filmImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Demetrius Shipp Jr plays Tupac Shakur in All Eyez On Me

A new Tupac Shakur biopic has divided audiences and critics in the US.

Although All Eyez On Me performed higher than expected at the US box office, some people connected to Tupac during his life have criticised it.

Jada Pinkett Smith, who was a childhood friend of the rapper, tweeted that the film's portrayal of her relationship with him is "deeply hurtful".

Tupac was killed in 1996, aged 25, and the film was released on what would have been his 46th birthday.

It has a 24% critics rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes., external

Watch the trailer for the film., external

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Vulture, external said the biopic was "rarely more than a faithful adaptation of the rapper's Wikipedia entry", while Rolling Stone, external called it a "major letdown."

Jada Pinkett Smith, who is played in the film by Kat Graham, suggests that the depiction of her friendship with Tupac is inaccurate.

She writes on Twitter: "Forgive me... my relationship to Pac is too precious to me for the scenes in All Eyez On Me to stand as truth.", external

There are three main incidents in the film which Pinkett Smith criticises.

She continues that she did not know of a poem that features in the film, as well as saying that he never said goodbye when he left for LA., external

She says that an argument between the two was fabricated, calling the portrayal "deeply hurtful.", external

But the actress and producer praises the performances of Demetrius Shipp Jr, who plays Tupac, and Kat Graham.

Pinkett Smith says they "both did a beautiful job"., external

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jada Pinkett Smith was childhood friends with Tupac

All Eyez On Me producer LT Hutton told TMZ, external he was "disappointed and hurt by the accusations" from Jada Pinkett Smith.

He defended the film, saying it "all came from the truth".

Rapper 50 Cent also criticised the film, calling it "trash" on social media.

Image source, Instagram/50 Cent

But the film beat box office expectations in the US, making an estimated $27m (£21m, external) on its opening weekend - showing that the audience seems to be enjoying it.

And its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is a respectable 70%.

Rapper Diddy and music producer Suge Knight, who are depicted in the film as well, both reportedly gave it the thumbs up., external

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Sean Diddy Combs in 1999, when he was known as Puff Daddy

John Singleton, who directed Shakur in the 1993 film Poetic Justice, was originally attached to All Eyez On Me but quit in 2015.

At the time, he said, external it was because "the people involved aren't really respectful of the legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur."

Last year, he told, external magazine HipHopDX: "I haven't watched it and I refuse to watch it ... I'm not even trying to give it any attention."

He was eventually replaced at the helm by Benny Boom.

The album All Eyez On Me was released in 1996., external

It was the last album released by Tupac before he was murdered in a drive-by shooting.

It was certified Diamond, external in the US, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

The film All Eyez On Me is released in the UK on 30 June.

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