T.K. Kirland maintains he is unaware of the rumored $1 million check, allegedly from Sean “Diddy” Combs, in connection to the 1997 murder of Tupac Shakur.
Kirkland sat down with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay where he recalled hanging out with 2Pac, among others, on the same day that he was killed. The comedian said he was taking fat burner pills at the time, and drank alcohol in the afternoon, which did not agree with his medication.
“I was working out, and I took some fat burner pills. Don’t know why. I’m not fat,” Kirkland said. “Took the fat burner pills, but I didn’t know you couldn’t drink alcohol with it. I drank alcohol later that afternoon, so as we’re going to the party, I leave them because I’m not feeling good.”
Kirkland said he ended up staying in his hotel for a week, and during that time, he found out on the news that 2Pac had been shot. The comedian remembered feeling confident that the rapper would pull through.
“When I started getting well, that’s when I found out he had died,” he said.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis was charged with 2Pac’s murder in 2023. Following his arrest, The U.S. Sun released audio from interview with Keffe D where he claimed Combs offered a $1 million hit on 2Pac and Suge Knight.
The origins of Combs’ $1 million offer have been linked to an alleged check that was given to Eric “Von Zip” Martin, who died from cancer in 2012.
“My street guy Eric ‘Von Zip.’ They said Puffy had gave Eric ‘Von Zip’ a million, and Zip never gave it to the people to do the shooting, but the shooting happens,” Kirkland said. “So, Eric ‘Von Zip’ died, but they knew me and him was partners, so rumor on the street was I had got the million because me and him was tight. But I want everybody to know, I don’t know nothing about no money.”
Gene Deal, a former bodyguard for Combs, told DJ Vlad in 2021 that he knew Martin carried around a check in his back pocket, but was informed that it was from Barry Hankerson for Blackground Records.
Kirkland previously spoke with Vlad TV about the check, which the comedian acknowledged he had “heard” about. When he was told that the money was intended for Keffe D, Kirkland mentioned that if the check could be tracked back to Combs, then he would face a murder-for-hire charge.
“But thank God he never gave him the money, right?” the comedian said. “Think about it. If he gave him the money, Puffy would be in prison now, murder-for-hire. If it’s a true story. I’m not saying yes or no.”
