Tupac’s Estate Greenlights His Appearance in Stranger Than Heaven Amid Embezzlement Allegations Against Its Executor

On Friday, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Snoop Dogg took the stage at Summer Game Fest to announce their collaboration, bringing the late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur into the spotlight once again with a cameo in the upcoming game, Stranger Than Heaven, nearly 30 years after his tragic death. Both RGG and Snoop emphasized that this project was developed in partnership with Tupac’s estate and without the use of AI, as if that somehow justifies reviving a legendary figure decades later.

However, the situation becomes even more troubling when you consider that the estate’s approval didn’t come from Tupac’s immediate family, as one might expect. Instead, it’s Tom Whalley, the former head of Warner Bros. Records who originally signed Tupac, who has the authority. Whalley is currently facing a lawsuit from Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, who accuses him of embezzling millions from her late brother’s estate.

Tupac Shakur passed away in 1996 without leaving a will, and control of his then-small estate was entrusted to his mother, Afeni Shakur. She established a trust and appointed Whalley as its trustee, granting him control over the estate and ownership of Amaru Entertainment, which holds rights to much of Tupac’s unreleased music, after her death in 2016.

In 2022, Sekyiwa Shakur filed a lawsuit against Whalley, alleging “blatant violations” of his responsibilities as executor of the estate. She claimed, “He has effectively embezzled millions of dollars for his own benefit,” accusing him of enriching himself at the expense of the beneficiaries and taking excessive compensation despite a clear conflict of interest.

Just because someone is managing an estate doesn’t mean they own its assets, but Sekyiwa alleges that Whalley has exploited his position to pay himself. She claims he appointed himself as the manager of Amaru Entertainment and has reportedly received over $5.5 million from that role. Additionally, she accuses him of withholding personal property that was meant for her, using it instead for profit. She also states that the estate, valued at around $40 million, has not provided financial information to the Tupac Shakur Foundation, which she leads.

Whalley has denied these allegations, asserting that Afeni Shakur chose him for this role while she was alive and that he is acting in the best interests of all parties involved. He also contends that the foundation is not entitled to the estate’s financial details. The lawsuit is still ongoing as of 2026, but court records indicate it hasn’t progressed significantly in recent years.

In the meantime, Whalley, as the estate’s executor, has approved Tupac’s posthumous appearance in Stranger Than Heaven and has previously been involved in controversial projects like Tupac NFTs. Snoop Dogg seems to be on board with any venture that involves his likeness. It’s unclear how Sekyiwa Shakur or other family members feel about Tupac’s appearance in the game or the NFTs, as they seem to have no say in the matter, which adds an unsettling layer to the situation. We’ve reached out to RGG Studio for clarification on whether the family was consulted and will provide updates if we receive a response.