Eminem’s mother has reportedly died aged 69. (Image: Getty)
Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson, died on Monday night following a battle with advanced She was reportedly diagnosed with the devastating disease earlier this year.
According to TMZ, the 69-year-old died in her hometown of St Joseph, Missouri. Eminem, 51 – real name Marshall Mathers – is yet to comment publicly on her death.
The pair have had a strained relationship over the years which has played out in public. Debbie sued Eminem in 1999 over song lyrics on his debut album, The Slim Shady LP.
The judge ruled in her favour but Debbie was only granted $25,000 of the $11 million dollars she asked for, ABC reports.
Eminem’s lawyer said at the time that the rapper’s lyrics reflected his life story. He said, as reported by The Sun: “Truth is an absolute defence to a claim of defamation. It is merely the result of a lifelong strained relationship between him and his mother.”
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Debbie sued Eminem in 1999. (Image: Getty)
She wrote a memoir in 2008 called My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, where she said she was “heartbroken” about Eminem’s claims about her.
Writing about her son’s birth, Debbie said: “From the moment he was born, my son Marshall was a beautiful actor. He knew exactly how to look at me from under his long dark eyelashes and put on a show.”
In 2013, Eminem’s song Headlights was interpreted as a public apology to his mother. He raps: “I went in headfirst, never thinking about who what I said hurt/My mom probably got it the worst…
“And I’m mad I didn’t get the chance to thank you for being my mom and my dad/So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote on this jet.”
When Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Debbie took to Twitter/X to pay tribute to her son and share how proud she was.
She wrote: “Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame. I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you.”
Debbie was also a mum to Eminem’s younger brother, Nathan. She had six grandchildren including Eminem’s children Hailie, Alaina and Stevie.