The coronavirus pandemic has seen a record-breaking 26 million Americans apply for unemployment.
However, officials have had suspicions of people using fake names while filing for unemployment as a funny prank.
That turned out not to be the case when a Kentucky resident who shares the same name as the late raped Tupac Shakur applied for unemployment.
“We had somebody apply for unemployment for Tupac Shakur here in Kentucky,” Governor Andy Beshear said during a news conference. “And that person may have thought they were being funny. …Except for the fact that because of them, we had to go through so many other claims.”
But what Beshear didn’t know was that Tupac Shakur was also the name of a current 46-year-old Lexington, Kentucky resident.
In an interview with the Lexington Herald, the restaurant worker revealed that, like many other Americans, he’s actually out of a job and felt “really embarrassed” about being singled out.
“I’m hurt, I’m really embarrassed and I’m shocked,” he said.
Shakur normally goes by his middle name Malik, but for obvious reasons had to use his first and last name when applying for unemployment benefits.
Shakur revealed that Beshear called him personally early Tuesday to apologize and that he forgave the Governor, understanding that “mistakes happen.”
“I understand, he’s dealing with a lot,” Shakur continued.
Shakur’s name was changed by law in the 1990s because his last name means “thankful to God” in Arabic.
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