2pac’s New Nixon Watch Collection Faces Backlash
Tupac Shakur, often referred to as 2Pac, has unexpectedly become the face of Nixon watches, and this unusual product placement has raised questions among fans and observers.
Billboard made the announcement of this new partnership on Tuesday, unveiling a collection of five watches priced between $175 and $600, all featuring the late rapper’s image. The collection was designed to commemorate Tupac’s “legacy and timeless style.”
However, the partnership has garnered mixed reactions, with some fans expressing their disapproval. One fan wrote, “WHO APPROVED THIS BULLSH**? First the ‘PROUD’ merch & now a brand he didn’t wear? You think Big’s people would allow his face to be placed on some STADIA shoes? HELL F NO!!!”
Another fan suggested that Tom Whalley, the former chairman and CEO of Warner Brothers and the executor of Tupac’s mother’s estate, might be behind the decision.
Tom Whalley is known for making decisions on behalf of Tupac’s estate, which have led to legal disputes in the past. In 2021, Sekyiwa Shakur, Tupac’s sister, sued Whalley, alleging that he had “embezzled millions” and refused to release valuable personal items of Tupac’s, including gold records. She accused Whalley of “blatant violations” of his duties as the estate’s executor.
Sekyiwa Shakur claimed that Whalley enriched himself at the expense of the estate’s beneficiaries and took excessive compensation while also serving as the manager of Amaru Entertainment, the record label responsible for releasing some of Tupac’s music and the primary income-producing asset of the Trust.
The estate was initially managed by Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, following his murder in 1996. After Afeni’s passing in 2016, Tom Whalley assumed the responsibilities as the estate’s executor. Sekyiwa Shakur’s lawsuit alleged that Whalley used his position to benefit himself financially.
